Accra (Greater Accra), 25 Feb '99 -

Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday lauded Sweden for renewing its trade policy towards Africa, saying, that country can now play a more active role in Africa by virtue of its membership of the European Union. Vice President Mills, who made this point when he received letters of credence from Mr Lars Ekstrom, Swedish ambassador, also called for the stepping up of "the long-standing bonds of friendship" between Ghana and Sweden. He recounted government's efforts at creating the enabling environment for investment and urged Mr Ekstrom to work tirelessly at increasing Swedish private investments in Ghana. Mr Ekstrom said his country's foreign policy is governed by long-term visions of a peaceful world in which human rights and gender equality is respected and where everyone has access, in democratic reforms, to a reasonable livelihood. "But we have a long way to go. The number of poor people in the world is still increasing." He said Sweden has played an active part in African issues related both to liberation from the colonial powers, to poverty reduction on the continent and in supporting the anti-apartheid struggle. He said trade policy towards Africa is aimed at strengthening trade and economic ties and mentioned that Ghana is in the forefront of the many African countries which are showing impressive economic growth and are encouraging foreign trade. Touching on the new Swedish African policy, the ambassador said it constitutes a broad framework for co-operation on more equal relations as good partners in political, economical, commercial, cultural and other respects.