Ivorian President Alassane Dramane Ouattara has commended President John Evans Atta Mills for the role Ghana played in the Ivorian peace process as he posts a new ambassador to the county few days after his investiture.
The new Ambassador, Mr Bernard Hui-Koutoua, on Thursday presented his Letters of Credence to President Mills at the Osu Castle in Accra, fives days after the investiture of the Ivorian President, attended by President Mills last Saturday.
President Mills emphasised that the Ambassador had come at an important time in the history of the two neighbouring nations.
He observed that it was time to show goodwill, love and support for Ivorians pointing the need for high level co-operation among the neighbours in the West African sub-region.
President Mills assured Ivorians of Ghana’s fullest co-operation.
“ La Cote d’Ivoire is facing a number of difficulties; we should be able assist you in rebuilding your country,” President Mills said as he stressed the need for a quick return to normalcy in the world’s leading producer of cocoa affected by close to six months post elections crisis.
President Mills assured the new Ambassador of the co-operation of the Government and people of Ghana, with emphasis on peace and unity among the two sister nations.
“We are one people. Many of our citizens are bound by blood. What is good for La Cote d’Ivoire should be good for Ghana, which means that the problems of La Cote d’Ivoire should also concern us,” President Mills said.
Five other envoys who also presented their Letters of Credence were Mrs Gifty Abasiya Ababulgu, from Ethiopia; Mr Peter Jones from the United Kingdom; Mr Mohamed Soleymani from the Islamic Republic of Iran; Mr Mirsliv Hacek from the Slovak Republic and Mr Przemylsaw Niesiolawski from Poland.
President Mills praised the strong ties between Ghana and the countries the diplomats are representing, acknowledging their development assistance in terms of political development, economic relations and human resource development.
He urged the envoys to take advantage of Ghana’s good investment environment and strike mutually beneficial deals during their duty tour.