The Vice President, Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, arrived in London to begin a nine-day official visit at the invitation of the British government.
Prof. Mills, who is accompanied by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. J, A. Laryea, was met at the Gatwick Airport by Mr. Michael Foster of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. Aggrey-Orleans, officials of the High Commission and some executive members of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), UK and Ireland branch.
During the visit, Prof. Mills would participate in a conference on the theme “Challenges for Governance in Africa. He is expected to give closing address on the “The role of the international community in promoting good governance: What Africa wants”. A statement from the High Commission in London said he would have audience with the Mrs. Clare Short, Secretary of State for the Department of International Development, Mr. Peter Hain, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Mr. Richard Caborn, Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry. He would hold discussions with the Director General of the Confederation of British Industry, Mr. Adair Turner and visit the University of Luton and Taylor Woodrow. The Vice President would be the guest of honour at a fund-raising dinner dance to be organized by the NDC and the inauguration of the Women’s wing of the party. Prof. Mills commended the co-operative spirit of the officers of the High Commission and urged them to keep it up.
He briefed them on issues at home such as the falling gold and cocoa prices and the sharp increase in the price of crude oil. Prof. Mills gave the assurance that the government has taken steps to ensure that their negative effects do not derail the economy.
