President Mahama meets David Cameron in London

British Prime Minister David Cameron, on Friday commended Ghana for the vast improvement of her economy, good governance and political stability. He said Ghana was considered an oasis of peace and political stability on the African continent, and it should, therefore, play a leading role in the maintenance of peace and stability in other countries, especially Mali, where there was currently political turbulence. Prime Minister Cameron gave the commendation when President John Dramani Mahama called on him at the number 10 Downing Street, London, as part of his three-day visit to the United Kingdom. President Mahama was accompanied by Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Information and Media Relations. Others dignities are Mr Seth Terkper, Minister for Finance, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister for Energy and Petroleum, and Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. Prime Minister Cameron promised to visit Ghana very soon, and gave the assurance that his country would leverage diplomatic and bilateral relations with Ghana in the areas of trade, oil and gas and general investment that would be beneficial to the two countries. He pledged that the British government would establish a free port in the Western Region to facilitate the haulage and maintenance of ships and other machinery that would be used at the high seas of the oil exploitation areas of the country. The Prime Minister applauded Ghana�s role in peacekeeping in Africa and beyond, and called on her to help restore peace and stability in Mali by ensuring peaceful elections in the West African country. Prime Minister Cameron promised to strengthen Britain�s relations with Ghana towards the development of small and medium scale enterprises. President Mahama commended the British Prime Minister for inviting him to participate in the G8 Summit, and to hold discussions that would subsequently bring mutual benefits to the United Kingdom and Ghana. He said Ghana was growing economically from the lower-middle income state to higher-middle income state and would, therefore, need the support of the United Kingdom and other developed states, to achieve that goal. President Mahama said the development of a freeport in the Western Region would not only give Ghana the opportunity to create jobs, but it would help build the capacity of its people, who would serve in neighbouring countries. He said, currently, countries on the Western Coast carry out maintenance works on their ships in South Africa, and the establishment of a freeport would enable the countries to save a great chunk of funds, to attend to other development activities.