President satisfied with performance
Although his government has been largely criticised for unfulfilled promises, Ghana’s president, John Kufuor says his government is satisfied with the modest but significant gains that have been made in the two years of its mandate.

He however, conceded that efforts to rebuild the ailing Ghanaian economy have posed the biggest challenge to the government but he is optimistic that the government’s economic policies will yield positive results, he told an annual cocktail for the Diplomatic Corps at the Castle, Osu in Accra.

“The rule of law is taking root and democratic institutions are being nurtured to give voice to the people and hold rulers accountable.”

The president noted that, “there can no longer be any talk of a culture of silence in the country.”

He said one has to tune in to live radio discussion programmes on the FM stations or monitor the activities of both officials and members of the private press to appreciate to appreciate how far the government has gone in the promotion of the basic freedoms of Ghanaians.

“Indeed, I have heard some say that what we now suffer from is a culture of excess noise,” he said.

On the economy, Kufuor said although government politics have led to a measure of stability on the macro-economic front, there has not been the rapid growth in the economy that the country requires to make strides.

He stated that the government decided right from the beginning that the long-term distortions in the economy have to be resolved once and for all to enable the country to make a headway.

President Kufuor expressed the hope that once the country gets over the difficulties, the economy will be forced to grow and the abundant entrepreneurial skills of the people of Ghana will have the chance to blossom.

On the tragic events in Yendi, the president said, although the government has made significant strides in the area of law and order, the events have been a big sad blot and gave the assurance that government will spare no efforts to bring about a just peace that will restore harmony to he Dagbon area.

On the situation in neighbouring La Cote d’Ivoire, president Kufuor who has just be elected as the ECOWAS chairman said the Marcoussis Accord is under tremendous stress and said the member countries of ECOWAS are actively engaged in trying to get the various groups to reach a peaceful resolution.

He said, as the current chairman of ECOWAS, he will do all that it takes to ensure that peace returns to troubled Cote d’Ivoire and other troubled parts of the sub-region, including Liberia.