Washington DC, Sept. 15, GNA - The U.S Secretary of State, Dr Condolezza Rice, on Monday said that her country was proud to be a close partner of Ghana and to stand by its side.

She said the U.S, which had had good ties with Ghana over the years, was determined to "forge relations of hope and promise" to help new generation of Ghanaians to have better future.

Dr Rice said this is because Ghana has made good choices about democracy, good governance and the fight against corruption. She was speaking at a meeting with President John Agyekum Kufuor, who was on a four-day state visit to the U.S, at the State Department. Dr Rice said the development support U.S was providing Ghana was due to the strength and determination Ghanaians themselves were showing to improve their situation.

President Kufuor spoke of the need for U.S-Ghana partnership to continue to grow and to be further strengthened in the years ahead. The rapid transformation of trade and geo-politics, the President said made it imperative for the developed and developing countries to hold together in partnership for their survival.

He also urged the U.S and other members of the club of the world's rich nations (G-8) to provide selfless and moral leadership to deal with the threat of climate change and other global challenges. This, they should do through massive deployment of scientific and technological resources and the sharing of information with the developing nations.

President Kufuor thanked the U.S for its support towards conflict resolution in Africa.

Accompanying President Kufuor were the wife, Theresa Kufuor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, the Information Minister, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Professor Gyan Baffour, Deputy Finance Minister and other senior government Officials.

The visit at the invitation of US President George Bush is to re-inforce the ties of warm and enduring friendship between the two and comes amidst Ghana's international acclamation as a model of democracy, good governance and economic reforms in Africa.