General News of Monday, 7 August 2006

Source: GNA

Kufuor arrives home from U.S

Accra, Aug. 7, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived in Accra Sunday evening from the United States where he witnessed the signing of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

Some senior government officials accompanied the President. In an interview with journalists, President Kufuor said Ghana's transaction team had been working toward the event for the pass three years and that the signing ceremony was the climax of their hard work. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Ghana for their support. "This grant would be to the benefit of the entire nation, there is nothing partisan or factional about it".

The President said more than 700,000 direct jobs could be generated as a result of the grant, adding that the government would ensure that the Account's Authority live up to expectation.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Chairman of the Millennium Challenge Authority and Minister for Public Sector Reform, said serious efforts were afoot to ensure quick implementation of the grant.

He said specific arrangements concerning the grant had been planned for the next six weeks with the expectation that they would begin to yield results by the end of the year.

Vice President Aliu Mahama and some Ministers of State, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Joseph Boakye Danquah, met the President at the Airport.