Ghana has become the first West African country to receive the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) visa, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mr. Ferdinand Ayim announced at a press briefing in Accra yesterday.

He said by that, Ghana would receive certification to export textiles to the United States of America. Ghana will then become one of eleven African countries to achieve textile certification.

Mr. Ayim said Ghana's visa to AGOA is a major boost to the President's Special Initiative (PSI), which was launched last year. Under AGOA, thirty-five African countries, including Ghana will enjoy duty free and quota-free status on virtually all exports to the US. Guarantees would however have to be provided in the case of textiles to prove that they are made in Africa.

Mr. Ayim called on farmers and manufacturers as well as textile related industries to take full advantage of the AGOA initiative. African textile exports to the US, which is currently approximately $350 million a year, has the potential to grow to $4.2 billion over the next eight years.

At the same briefing, Mr. Ayim said measures have been put in place to ensure peace this year when the ban on noise making in the Ga-Adangbe traditional area is declared. He said the President has discussed the issues at stake with a delegation of religious leaders and would do the same with traditional leaders this month.

He appealed to all to exercise a high degree of tolerance and maturity since this is the only way to live in a multi-ethnic/religious society. He also cautioned against the use of inflammatory statements since they would invite retaliatory actions and lead to social unrest.

He announced that bye-laws and regulations on noise making would be followed and those who take the law into their own hands would have themselves to blame.

He said as a first step a permanent five-member Conflict Resolution and Management Committee has been established since last year by the Regional Coordinating Council to deal with issues affecting chieftaincy, land, religion and customary practice. Also, a Special Task Force, comprising the Police, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AMA Guards to enforce the AMA bye-laws on abatement of noise is operational. Mr. Ayim said the task force is empowered to arrest and prosecute owners of music shops, cassette sellers and ghetto blasters without licence, among others.