<<Print>>

President John Evans Atta Mills has affirmed Ghana�s commitment to play a positive and creative role in the affairs of international organisations. That, he said, would be achieved by participating in the deliberations that sought solutions t problems that threatened international peace, security and development. The President said this when he exchanged New Year greetings with members of the diplomatic corps at the Jubilee House in Accra on Friday. He said Ghana would continue to engage the international community, by maintaining and further developing productive relations with all countries, particularly those with the capacity to contribute to the consolidation of Ghana�s democratic values and institutions, as well as to peace and sustainable economic development. �Indeed, that is why we are collaborating with our foreign partners in the recent matter of the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound aircraft. We will continue to collaborate with our foreign partners to fight the drug war,� he stressed. President Mills said his administration�s policy of good neighbourliness continued to be a cardinal foreign policy objective, saying, �it is a matter of deep satisfaction that relations with our immediate neighbours continue to benefit Ghana in areas such as the exchange of high level visits and regular consultations.� He further expressed strong commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a pivotal instrument for the promotion of sub-regional peace, security, stability and economic development. �As regards the larger continental spectrum, Ghana will continue to work hand in hand with member States of the African Union (AU) in championing the integration and unity of the African continent,� he stated. The President expressed the delight at the decision of the AU to make the birthday of the country�s founder, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, a special day on the AU calendar and announced that 100th birthday of Dr Nkrumah would be climaxed in May, this year. He said one year into his administration, the government could look back with quiet satisfaction that a solid foundation had been laid that would ensure that �we stay glued to our Better Ghana agenda of investing in our people, providing jobs, expanding infrastructure, and managing the affairs of the state.� �Having come out of our election on a high pedestal, and with a change in governance style, it was not surprising that the international spotlight was turned on Ghana when President Barrack Obama chose Ghana as the destination for his first official visit to Africa,� he stressed. On Sports, President Mills congratulated Egypt on successfully hosting the Under-20 World Cup tournament and specially thanked President Hosni Mubarak for his personal support for Ghana in the final match, which saw Ghana bring glory and honour to the whole African continent. President Mills expressed similar commendation to President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote D�Ivoire, for honouring the Black Satellites for winning the under-20 World Cup. �Ghana wishes Angola and South Africa well as they host the Africa and World Cup tournament respectively. Hopefully, Africa will host and keep the World Cup trophy on the continent,� he noted.