From: Beatrice Akua Asamani, GNA Special Correspondent, Doha, Qatar

Doha, May 24, GNA - Qatar's Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments at a meeting with Vice President Aliu Mahama, encouraged Ghana to submit specific proposals for poverty alleviation and humanitarian projects for funding by his Government.

Mr Ahmed Abdullah Qurab, who paid a courtesy call on the Vice President at his Sheraton Hotel Residence, said he had been empowered by the Emir of Qatar to support such projects for Ghana to uplift both the spiritual and material status of poor people.

These include the provision of schools, scholarships, clinics, mosques, potable water, income generating activities and others for rural poor communities.

The Minister said he would cooperate with other Ministers of State on such requests to see how best they could be met, but added that details of needs assessments, project designs and cost should be provided with the proposals.

Mr Qurab said his country cherished its relationship with Ghana and was committed to deepening it.

Vice President Mahama commended Qatar for its assistance in the provision of wells; clinics; mosques and scholarship to Ghanaian students saying Ghana would cooperate with Qatar for greater bilateral and economic ties.

The Vice President also held discussions with the Speaker of the Qatari Advisory Council, (Parliament), Mohamed Bin Mubarak Alkhulaifi and shared information and experiences on Governance from their home countries.

They pledged to work towards cooperation between their Parliaments. Earlier, the Vice President visited the Qatar's Education City in Doha, which is linked with the 10 best universities in the world to provide tuition and education to children from nursery to professional levels.

A one billion-dollar endowment fund has been established to run the University, which is open to students from all over the world. It has the best state of the art architecture, facilities and logistics. Alhaji Mahama lauded the investment, saying spending on education was the best of all investments and expressed the hope that Ghanaian students would have the opportunity to study there.

The investment-seeking State Visit of the Delegation was at the invitation of Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Crown Prince of Qatar. 24 May 04