Accra, Feb. 6, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday expressed condolences to the Government and people of Egypt over the ferry disaster in which more than 800 people perished. Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson, said at a Castle press briefing on Monday that the President's "prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved families and it is his hope that they would hold together in this critical period".

He said President Kufuor had directed the Ghana Mission in Egypt through the Foreign Ministry to convey the message to country and its Government.

Mr Agyepong also touched on the People's Assembly slated for Cape Coast on Tuesday, and advised that those who would get the opportunity to ask questions should show civility and decorum.

The Assembly, he said, would help President Kufuor to gauge the pause and reaction of the people to Government's policies and decisions. The Press Secretary referred to the reduction of the Bank of Ghana (BOG) prime rate from 15.5 per cent to 14.5 per cent as contained in the Monetary Policy Committee's Report and said this sent strong signals about the country's macro-economic stability.

Mr Agyepong said the outlook for inflation and economic growth was good and expressed the hope that the private sector would be more innovative, ambitious and engaging to help to accelerate the pace of development