PRESS RELEASE


GHANA’S AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES ASSURES PRESIDENT ARROYO OF GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN GHANA AND THE PHILIPPINES


Ghana’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Philippines, His Excellency Mr. Daniel Kwasi Abodakpi has assured the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Government of Ghana’s commitment to further enhance relations between the two countries, especially in the field of trade and investment as well as technical and cultural cooperation.

2. His Excellency Abodakpi made these remarks when he presented his credentials to the President of the Philippines as Ambassador of the Philippines with residence in Malaysia.

3. During his interaction with Her Excellency President Arroyo, Ghana’s Ambassador conveyed fraternal greetings from His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and the best wishes from the Government and people of Ghana.

4. He further briefed her on current political and economic developments in Ghana and the efforts the government was making to put Ghana’s economy on a sound footing. He mentioned the importance Ghana placed on its relations with the Philippines and assured her of the current Government’s commitment to further deepen the ties between the two countries, especially in the area of economic and technical co-operation.

5. He also assured her of his personal commitment to further deepen the friendly relations between the two countries.

6. Ghana’s Ambassador also took the opportunity to congratulate President Arroyo for presiding over the first successful automated elections in the Philippines.

7. On her part, President Arroyo who steps down on the 30th of June 2010, after 9 years at the helm, recalled with nostalgia her visit to Ghana in 1967 as a newly wedded bride and expressed the hope that she would visit Ghana again soon after leaving office. She extended her warm felicitations and best wishes to His Excellency President John Evans Atta-Mills.

8. Whilst in the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Mr. Daniel Kwasi Abodakpi met with captains of industry and business as well as potential investors and those with existing business interests in Ghana. At those meetings, he briefed them on the various investments opportunities in Ghana especially in the energy sector with Ghana’s recent oil find and the projected growth in other allied sectors and urged them to consider investing in Ghana.

9. His Excellency Abodakpi also held a very fruitful meeting with the Commissioner of Philippines Commission of Elections, Mr .Gregorio Y. Larrazabal, to explore possible future collaboration between Ghana’s Electoral Commission and the Philippines Commission of Elections, following the successful automated elections held in that country.



10. The Ambassador also met with the Executive of the Ghanaian Community in the Philippines and briefed them on economic and political developments back home and government’s commitment to vigorously pursue the policies it had outlined for the country as contained in the NDC’s manifesto and development agenda. He also urged them to explore ways of making the skills and knowledge acquired in the Philippines available to their country and compatriots back home.

11. He assured them of the Mission’s preparedness to operate an open door policy to ensure the extension of the necessary consular assistance to all members of the various Ghanaian Communities in the countries he is accredited to namely Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Myanmar in pursuance of government’s objective to protect the interest of Ghanaian citizens abroad.



Source: Ghana High Commission
Kuala Lumpur
15th June 2010