Takoradi, Oct. 21,GNA - Ghana remains an oasis of tranquillity and hope for democratically and economically vibrant West Africa, a team from the United States Agency for International development (USAID) said in Takoradi on Wednesday.

The nine-member team led by Mr David Queen, the Counsellor for Public Affairs, made the observation at a public forum to educate the people on the activities of USAID.

The officials expressed satisfaction that civil society organisations were emerging as active partners in framing the agenda for governance in the country.

The team also noted that Parliament's prominence as a dynamic branch of government was growing while the press was enjoying enormous freedom. They called on the Government to make significant strides to advance the course of economic reforms to invigorate the private sector. The team said although Ghana was making democratic strides the country remained fragile to the adverse effects of conflicts in the Sub-Region.

The USAID personnel were of the view that the smouldering political, ethnic and religious hostilities in Ghana's Eastern neighbours; Togo and Nigeria could have an influence on Ghanaians.

Most of the participants at the forum were entrepreneurs, who appealed to the USAID to assist them to promote their businesses to international levels.