    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [April 12, 2006]
    [Pages 712-713]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana
    April 12, 2006

        President Bush. Mr. President, welcome. It's good to have you back.
    We just had a wonderful discussion about our bilateral relations and a
    great discussion about the world. I really enjoy talking to a man of
    vision and strength and character. President Kufuor has done a fantastic
    job for Ghana. He's told the people of his country he'd bring honesty to
    government, and he has. He told the people of his country that he would
    work on a--create a stable economic platform for--and he has done that
    as well. And he's a man of peace. He cares deeply about peace in the
    region.
        As a result of his leadership and our confidence in his Government,
    we're very happy to work with his country to promote what we've called
    the Millennium Challenge Account. It's a statement of our respect, and
    it's a statement for our appreciation for somebody who is willing to
    invest in his people, is willing to fight corruption, who is willing to
    help a market economy grow.
        Mr. President, congratulations on your record of leadership. Thank
    you for being a man of peace. Thank you for coming to Washington.
        President Kufuor. I want to thank the President for understanding
    Africa. His works, for the past 5 years or so, have done so much in
    terms of contributing to the fight against HIV/AIDS on two fronts--the
    fund you set up, $15 billion fund, some of which has helped to, in a
    way, save and also make life easier for over 400,000 afflicted people.
        Then on the education front, I was honored with a visit from Mrs.
    Bush just about 2 months ago, during which she launched a program
    towards linking the messages of the United States and Africa, to work
    out curriculum for primary and basic education, and also for supplying
    textbooks and education materials for children, and also helping with
    education for girls.
        And then there's AGOA, which Ghana is benefiting from, even though
    there we need more help. [Laughter] And then there's the TIFA, Trade and
    Investment Framework law. I believe this is a President that is helping
    Africa help itself. And we count on your support.
        On the MCA front, everything going to plan, Ghana and the United
    States will sign a compact by July. And that would enable Ghana pursue
    modernized agriculture. We are largely an agricultural country, and
    these projects that would free hundreds of millions of dollars to help
    modernize our agriculture would affect as many as 3 million people, help
    reduce poverty, and also push growth for the economy.
        So we see the President as a friend of Ghana's and, I can say, of
    much of Africa. Thank you.
        President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Let's go have lunch.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:57 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House.

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