London, Oct. 15, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Tuesday, commended Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his relentless efforts in attracting investments and other projects to facilitate the socio-economic progress of Ghana.

He said the Government considered Chiefs as strategic partners with a crucial role to play in the advancement of the nation and, therefore, it was encouraged by the Asantehene's determination to serve his country.

Vice President Mahama was speaking at a meeting in London, with Otumfuo Osei Tutu; Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Isaac Osei; Upper East Regional Minister, Mahami Salifu; Mr Kwesi Abeasi, Chief Executive of Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) and other dignitaries.

The Vice President and the Asantehene are in London to participate in Ghana Expo 2003, a four-day major exhibition and investment seminar, aimed at marketing Ghanaian businesses and products to her major development partners, the United Kingdom and the European Union. More than 600 major producers, distributors, retailers, consumers, wholesalers and policy makers are to participate in the event to be opened by the Vice President, on Thursday. It would be held at the prestigious Alexandria Palace in North London.

Vice President Mahama said the event presented a great opportunity to sell Ghana as a credible and fruitful investment destination to the world to attract the requisite foreign direct investment and joint partnerships, critical for achieving sound economic growth.

Economic and investments experts say Ghana's relatively stable political and economic environment favourably places her as a safer haven for the 250 million people in West Africa to do business. Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the "fragile state of the economy required an all hands on deck approach to make it stronger and viable".

He said no Ghanaian, irrespective of his status or location should isolate himself from the developmental process because everyone has a stake in the nation's success or failure.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said it was the policy of the Asanteman Council to support the genuine moves of every government to push the nation's progress, adding that he would, therefore, avail himself every time he was asked to perform a task in the interest of the nation.

"I believe that Ghana belongs to all of us and not to any individual or group," he said, adding: "We all have an equal stake in her fortunes, therefore, we must rise up to our responsibilities and contribute our quota to make it a better place for all of us."

The climax of the event would be a durbar on Sunday to expose Ghana's rich culture to the world to attract tourists.

Baroness Valarie Amos, UK Secretary for International Development, Mr Paul Boateng, Secretary to the UK Treasury and Mr Ken Livingston, Mayor of London are expected to attend a fund-raising dinner dance on Sunday.

Expo Africa and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiatives are jointly organising the event. 15 Oct 03