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French, Japanese Ambassadors bid farewell to Kufuor
Accra, July 22, GNA – The outgoing French
and Japanese Ambassadors on Tuesday called separately at the
Castle, Osu, to bid farewell to President John Agyekum
Kufuor.
Mr Pierre Jacquemot, French Ambassador and Mr Masamchi
Ishikawa, Japanese Ambassador, are leaving at the end of
their duty tour.
The pair expressed satisfaction with the level of bilateral
co-operation and partnership between their countries and
Ghana.
Mr Jacquemot described as “amazing” the tremendous
improvement the country was making in all sectors of the
economy and specifically mentioned education and health.
The capitation grant and the school feeding programme and
the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he said, were
making significant impact on education delivery and the
quality of life of the people.
“The three-and-a-half years I spent here have been a
marvellous time. There have been so many changes and it is
most amazing.”
He spoke of the need for continued partnership between Ghana
and France, saying, “there is a lot to learn from you and a
lot to learn from us.”
The Ambassador paid glowing tribute to the nation for the
wonderful hospitality of the people and said; “here has been
an easy place to work as a diplomat”.
President Kufuor thanked the French Government for its
support for the country’s development efforts.
The landmark National Identification Project was launched
through the 30-million dollar assistance from France.
He noted that the success of the exercise would allow for
proper development planning by the Government.
President Kufuor, who reiterated Ghana’s resolve to deepen
its partnership with France for the mutual benefit of their
peoples, lauded the out-going Ambassador for the role he
played in strengthening the ties between the two countries.
Mr Jacquemot is leaving for the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
At his turn, Mr Ishikawa said he was happy that
Ghana-Japanese relations were at an all time high and
expressed the hope that his successor would build on the
solid foundation of friendship and economic co-operation.
President Kufuor referred to the Noguchi Medical Prize
established by Japan to promote medical services in Africa
and said this had gone down in history as a high point in
Ghana-Japan relations.
Noguchi, a Japanese national, died in Ghana whilst
researching into yellow fever.
President Kufuor also expressed gratitude to Japan for its
continued development assistance.
The Mallam-Yamoransa road, which has been built into a
first-class highway, was constructed with a Japanese grant.
It again recently announced another grant of 85 million
dollars to build the Yamoransa-Anwiankwanta stretch.
GNA
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