GHANAIANS IN THE DIASPORA CALL FOR PEACE IN THE DIASPORA

27/04/2010 :PRAGUE; Ghanaians in the Diaspora have called on the government and all peace loving citizens of Ghana to intensify their efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace in the northern part of the country. Ghanaians resident in the Czech Republican capital, Prague, who made the call at a meeting with the visiting Parliamentary delegation currently in the Czech Republic noted with regret the damage pockets of conflicts in the north are causing among potential Czech citizens who are prepared to do business with Ghana.

A spokesman for the Ghanaian residents, Mr. Afrikatu Nkrumah told the visiting delegation, led by the Speaker of Parliament, Mrs. Joyce Bamford Addo about the uneasiness among potential investors including Ghanaians who are holding some funds back as a result of conflicts. He however expressed the hope that steps would be taken to resolve these self inflicted conflict s in order to open up for more investment ventures. Others who spoke at the meeting also decried the difficult processes Ghanaians trained in the East go through before they are accepted by their Ghanaian authorities to practice. They cited examples where medical doctors have been frustrated in the past thereby discouraging other trained medical professionals from returning home. They therefore appealed to the Speaker and the leadership to intervene on their behalf since they are prepared to return home to contribute towards the overall development of the country.

The Speaker, the majority and the minority leaders addressed some of the concerns raised and gave the assurance that sector ministers whose responsibility it is to address issues raised would be contacted for the necessary redress. In another development, the Speaker of Parliament and other members of the delegation have met with both the Senate President and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament to discuss a wide range of issues bordering on how the two parliaments could work closely together to promote parliamentary democracy and economic development.

The visit by the parliamentary delegation was at the invitation of the Czech Parliament. The President of the Senate, Mr Premysl Sobotka, at a separate meeting was highly optimistic that relations between the two parliaments could flourish further. He commended Ghana for its democratic credentials especially events surrounding the last general elections and pledged his country's support to entrench Ghana's parliamentary democracy. On his part, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr Miloslav Vicek said his country would be ready to support the Northern Railway project, power generation efforts as well as assist in managing waste in the country. His country would also be glad to finance investment.. Speaker Bamford-Addo, the Majority leader, Hon Cletus Avorka and the minority leader Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu took turns to express their gratitude to the Czech Parliament for the invitation.

They also commended the Czech government for providing support in areas such agricultural development, industrial establishments and peace keeping in the past and expressed the hope that their capacity building efforts would extend to intelligence training.