    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 15, 2008]
    [Pages 1201-1204]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana
    September 15, 2008

        President Bush. Good morning. I'm pleased to be here with my friend,
    the President of Ghana, John Kufuor of Ghana. We just had a very good
    discussion, and before I summarize it, I do want to say a word about the
    U.S. economy.
        I know Americans are concerned about the adjustments that are taking
    place in our financial markets. At the White House and throughout my
    administration, we're focused on them, and we're working to reduce
    disruptions and minimize the impact of these financial market
    developments on the broader economy.
        I've been in close touch with Secretary Paulson throughout this weekend and this morning. I appreciate
    the work the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve and the
    Securities and Exchange Commission and major financial institutions here
    and around the world are doing to promote stability in the financial
    systems.
        As policymakers, we're focused on the health of the financial system
    as a whole.

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    In the short run, adjustments in the financial markets can be painful,
    both for the people concerned about their investments and for the
    employees of the affected firms. In the long run, I'm confident that our
    capital markets are flexible and resilient and can deal with these
    adjustments.
        I admire President Kufuor, and the reason I do is because he has
    shown the world that democracy can flourish on the continent of Africa.
    He's been a steady and principled leader. We're soon to leave office,
    but I'm going to finish strong, and I know you are as well.
        We had a good discussion about important issues, such as fighting
    disease. One of the initiatives that we're working on together is the
    fight to--against neglected tropical diseases. And the President brought
    me up to date on the strategy to deal with that important issue and how
    we can help.
        We're talking about, obviously, fighting malaria. And the good news
    is, is that this is a Government that's very capable of taking American
    help and converting it into the kind of results that we all expect.
        We talked about education and economic opportunity. The United
    States supports vital educational partnerships in Ghana. We're training
    teachers. We've issued 6,000 scholarships to girls. Under the
    President's leadership, the education system is improving, and we're
    glad just to be a small part of that, Mr. President.
        And one of the most important initiatives of this administration has
    been the Millennium Challenge Account. It's an opportunity for the
    United States Government to help countries that govern justly and invest
    in the health and education of their people and believe in market
    economies. Ghana is such a country. And as the President mentioned in
    the welcoming ceremony, we're soon to begin spending $547 million to
    renovate schools, increase agricultural productivity, expand
    infrastructure, and support rural development.
        So the conclusion of the Millennium Challenge compact, Mr.
    President, is a testament to your leadership, and I'm very comfortable
    in telling the American people that this will be money well spent.
        The President has been very strong voice for peace. And we talked
    about Darfur. I appreciate very much Ghana's 11 U.N. peacekeeping
    operations that are ongoing. He has been a good, steady voice for strong
    leadership and for conflict resolution, witnessed by the fact that they
    were great on the U.N. Security Council. And thank you for your
    leadership there.
        All in all, it's been a good partnership, it's been good partners
    amongst me and you, John, but it's been a good partner between our
    countries. And I firmly believe that beyond our time in office, whoever
    the next Presidents will be, they will find relations between our
    countries are in good shape, which I believe is vital.
        And so I welcome you here. Laura and I are
    looking forward to having you to dinner tonight. I promise not to
    unleash the dance moves--[laughter]--that I first displayed in Ghana, in
    what was one of the most memorable trips of my Presidency.
        And so we're sure glad you're here. Welcome.
        President Kufuor. Thank you very much. Mr. President, I want to use
    this opportunity to express the deep appreciation of my nation and
    myself to you, as President of the United States, and to your great
    nation for the supports we've benefited and our relationship with you.
        The two countries have been friendly since Ghana attained
    independence in 1957. But I believe, under our watch, this relationship
    has been taken even higher----
        President Bush. Yes, sir.
        President Kufuor. ----and has translated into many supports
    affecting the--all aspects of our national life in Ghana. A typical
    example is the Millennium Challenge Accounts by which Ghana received, or
    is receiving, $547 million to modernize and

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    commercialize agriculture. You would appreciate the importance of this
    gesture from the United States when you know that about 60 percent of
    the Ghana population is rural and depends on agriculture.
        So far, much of our agriculture is subsistence, meaning farmers just
    scratch--[inaudible]--to feed themselves. But with the advent of the
    Millennium Challenge Accounts, we want to move the farmers on to more
    scientific and technological agriculture and thereby empower them more
    and make agriculture worth pursuing for the youth.
        President Bush. Yes, sir.
        President Kufuor. We are suffering as an economy a drift, very
    serious drift of the youth from the rural parts to the urban areas,
    which have not been planned to accommodate----
        President Bush. Right.
        President Kufuor. ----the drifts. And so now in our streets in the
    big towns, you have street children. We believe the success of the
    Millennium Challenge Account will help stem all these antisocial
    developments.
        President Bush. Right.
        President Kufuor. If you look at the malaria support from the United
    States, our country in the old times was dubbed ``the white man's
    grave.'' It was malaria infested, and the Europeans who first came along
    our coasts just didn't last. This disease continues to plague much of
    Africa and perhaps is the biggest killer--even bigger than HIV/AIDS--of
    our people on the continent. The hefty support we are getting from the
    United States, under your watch, is very welcome, and we hope to take it
    even further, again employing technologies and more scientific research.
        President Bush. Yes, sir.
        President Kufuor. Similarly, under your watch, you have increased
    the support for the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is devastating many
    countries on our continent. I believe you've increased the supports your
    country has been giving by over $20 billion. I believe that's
    humanitarian----
        President Bush. Thank you.
        President Kufuor. ----and you have to be accorded the credit----
        President Bush. Thank you.
        President Kufuor. ----for this gesture.
        In terms of trade, your country, I would say, holds the hub. We in
    Ghana trade in your currency, for instance. So with the current
    difficulties, naturally we also are affected. So we can only wish that
    your country rallies quickly to find solutions so that much of the world
    would be saved the trauma that we are going through.
        If you take the current situation of rapidly increasing food prices
    and crude oil prices, which are subverting all the efforts we are trying
    to make to put our economies together, we believe the developed as well
    as the developing countries should feel that we are in the boat together
    and that we must learn to sail together or perhaps we sink together.
        Again, with the climatic change--and here I have to express
    condolences and sympathy to the United States for what you are suffering
    down south in your country, especially in your State of Texas now.
        President Bush. My State, Texas, yes.
        President Kufuor. But you must know you are not alone here.
        President Bush. Thank you.
        President Kufuor. On the continent of Africa, as elsewhere in Asia,
    we are victims of the changes of climate. But this, again, should show
    humanity that perhaps we all belong together more than we want to admit.
    If we are going to make a dent on the problems caused by the climatic
    change, we need to be able to marshal scientific and technological
    knowledge and resources in which your country, the United States, must
    play leadership.
        So look to you to readily put abroad your resources, ethically and
    selflessly, so all of us will see how to contain----
        President Bush. Right.

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        President Kufuor. ----the challenges of global climatic change,
    which, again, should make us aware that perhaps we are already into the
    global village, and which we should share common values and sense of
    humanity. Forget about the race; forget about the ideology; forget about
    the religion; it's humanity that is at risk. And the United States
    definitely is in the forefront, or must be in the vanguard, of trying to
    find solutions to save mankind.
        But at bottom, Ghana is very grateful for the friendship we are--she
    is enjoying from the United States. And I personally am very happy and
    appreciate your friendship so far.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        President Kufuor. And I look forward to a good and productive
    retirement, just as I wish for you, as you go into retirement.
    [Laughter]
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. [Laughter]
        President Kufuor. You have been good, and I hope history will judge
    you well.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        President Kufuor. Thank you very much.
        President Bush. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House.