Secretary-General's remarks upon arrival (unofficial transcript)

Your Excellency the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Senior Minister, Mr. J.H. Mensah, Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, UN Officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps, Service Commanders in the Ashanti Region, Members of the media, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you Mr. Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, for the very warm words of welcome you have extended to my wife and myself and the team accompanying me.

Let me say how happy we are to be back here in Kumasi. As you rightly said Kumasi not a new place for me and indeed I remember very fondly what we did and shouldn't have done in my youth.

The Minister reminded me not to forget Kumasi and not to forget Ghana. The fact that I am here and that my wife and I decided to come back here and spend sometime on holidays and to meet friends, relatives and re-establish our roots is an indication that Ghana has always been very much part of me. I am Ghanaian, I feel Ghanaian and Ghana is my roots. There should be no doubt therefore that I will not forget Ghana.

As I listened to the Minister, I realized that the issues we deal without the United Nations and the struggle that we are engaged in for economic and social development is very much an issue here. The issue of governance,

the rule of law and democratic development is something this government and this nation is very much engaged in.

Whenever I have been during my short stay in the country, people do not hesistate or stop to talk to me about the rule of law, democracy and liberties that they as people expect to have and are enjoying. It is important to strengthen these democratic institutions and work together as a people to develop our nation.

Yes, the international community can help –the donor community, the financial institutions –but - it is we Ghanaian women and men –who must pool together to make this country the prosperous nation that it ought to be.

I would want at this stage to pay particular tribute to our women who are dynamic and have incredible strength, initiative and leadership qualities without whom I am not sure we would have achieved half the things that we have. This means we should recognise their roles and seek to have them represented at all levels of society –in leadership positions, in government, in business, in educational institutions and in the civil service.

I have often said that a society that does not use half of its talent, and women after all, represent 50 percent of the population –a society that does not use that talent is bound to lose out and we do not want to be losers in Ghana. Therefore, let's rely on our women, give them their due and together make this country what it ought to be. I know you have applauded, but I hope to see a difference –women in key positions –on my next visit to the country.

Mr. Minister, I know this is only the beginning. We have long festivities planned for today and I wouldn't want to speak too much or hold you up but simply say it is wonderful to be back home and to be back here in Kumasi to be received on the very grounds that I once stayed with my parents. It is really moving to be back to see old friends like Mr. J. H. Mensah and others.

Your Excellency the Vice-President, Ministers, Friends, thank you and we're going to have a great day.

Thank you.