Ghana emerging as strong democracy - Prez Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Ghana’s six successive elections are a testament to how Africa is emerging.
Advertisement
Addressing the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh yesterday, he said this year’s elections, like the previous ones, would be free, transparent and peaceful.
“It is our determination to continue this tradition and maintaining Ghana as a model of democracy and constitutional governance in Africa,” he said.
The President, who is on a three-day official visit to Scotland, said Ghana had played a laudable role in the progress of the African continent and would continue to do even better.
He stated that Africa was building a democracy that would form the basis for the growth and prosperity of its people.
The process of continental integration, the President said, was significant to maintaining the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Economy
Touching on the Ghanaian economy, the President said under his administration, the country was working to diversify the economy.
That would transform the country from a primary commodity export economy to an export-led value-added one.
Other Trending Stories
And on the transformation agenda, he said Scotland provided a good opportunity for collaboration to develop the manufacturing sector.
Education
President Mahama mentioned the significant role Scotland had played in providing quality higher education to Ghanaians since 1926 when Scotland received its first Ghanaian student.
A good number of Ghanaian professionals working in the oil and gas industry received their training in Scotland.
He said the Scotland-Ghana Society represented one of the strongest examples of the friendship between the two countries.
Rawlings and Otumfuo
He said he was happy to be in the Scottish Parliament after the visit by former President Jerry John Rawlings in 2000.
President Mahama also expressed appreciation to the University of Glasgow for the recognition it gave to former President Rawlings during his visit and subsequently to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Honorary Doctor of Law degrees were conferred on them.
Response
President Mahama was welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by the Presiding Officer, Ms Tricia Marwick, who wanted to see improved growth in relations between Scotland and Ghana.