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President Bush pledges 350 million dollars in the war
against tropical diseases
Accra, Feb. 20, GNA - As US President
George Walker Bush on Wednesday was announcing a
350-million-dollar fund over five years to fight glaucoma
and other neglected tropical diseases in Africa,
President Kufuor described him
as a "friend of Africa in need", who has shown particular
understanding of the affairs of Africa and Ghana.
Earlier, president Bush had paid
glowing tribute to President Kufuor, saying he was one of
the most respected international Leaders, who had not only
represented his country well but Africa also.
President Bush said
America would provide 17 million dollars to Ghana to support
the country to roll back the malaria disease.
The money is meant for the purchase and distribution of
insecticide-treated bed nets and anti-malarial drugs.
This package comes at a time when reported cases of malaria
in the country is said to be up by about 13 per cent.
President Bush, who is Ghana on the fourth-leg of his
six-day five-nation tour of Africa, was addressing a joint
press conference with President John Agyekum Kufuor after
holding bilateral talks at the Castle, Osu.
He said it was unacceptable to standby and watch a
generation wiped out by diseases and that he was looking
forward to work with African Leaders to save lives.
The US President has already visited Benin, Tanzania and
Rwanda and is scheduled to fly to Liberia from Ghana on
Thursday to wrap up the tour during which he is reviewing
the progress of American funded efforts to advance economic
development and combat HIV/AIDS and other treatable diseases
on the Continent.
He has called on Congress to double funding to 30 billion
dollars for his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which has
enabled about 1.2 million Africans to get anti-retroviral
drugs for the management of AIDS.
President Bush said the strategy of abstinence, being
faithful to one's partner and condoms use was working,
citing Uganda where the results were measurable.
He said as a strong believer in the ideology of fighting
extremism and hopelessness, he was of the firm conviction
that helping to fight diseases, promoting free trade and
business to reduce poverty, were crucial for the success of
this crusade.
It was on the account of this that Ghana was benefiting from
547-million dollar development assistance under the
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
"We believe in supporting Governments that fight corruption,
invest in their people, promote good governance, private
sector development and fight poverty."
Evidence of this, he said, was found in the colossal amount
of 45 billion dollars, he has committed to the fight against
HIV/AIDS as well as the length he was going to help to
combat malaria in Africa.
Added to these is the 547-million-dollar MCA fund to Ghana
the biggest grant ever to have been received by the country
since political independence to modernize agriculture and
reduce poverty.
President Kufuor also spoke of the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA) under which Ghana qualified to export
6,400 commodities to US markets duty-free and quota-free.
He said Ghana stood with and appreciated the US stance
against terrorism, noting that some of the victims of the
September 11 attack were Ghanaians.
President Kufuor also responded to concerns about China's
growing influence in Africa, saying, China was coming not as
a colonial power and that Africa would not succumb to
dictates and imposition.
He said China had proved to be quite competitive and that so
far, her engagements had been to their mutual benefit.
GNA
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