Terrorism must be eradicated by collective efforts: President Pranab Mukherjee

Accra, June 13: Terrorism is a scourge that knows no borders and it must be eradicated through the collective efforts of the civilised world, President Pranab Mukherjee has said while pledging India's support to Ghana for combating the menace.

Mukherjee, who is here on a two-day visit -- the first by an Indian President -- said India has been a victim of terrorism for three decades and shares Ghana's concern that it has become a global menace.

In his address at the banquet hosted by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama yesterday, Mukherjee said, "It is a scourge and knows no borders; it has no ideology except the ideology of wanton destruction. It must be eradicated through the collective efforts of the civilised world. India is in solidarity with you as you confront this challenge."

Mukherjee's visit is a part of India's outreach to Africa. While Mahama quoted Mahatma Gandhi and recalled the bond shared between Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, both founding fathers of the Non-Aligned Movement, Mukherjee quoted a poem of Rabindranath Tagore titled 'Africa' in his address.

"Today the world order demands global governance structures that are consistent with the new challenges that confront the global community. It is a serious anomaly that India, home to every sixth citizen of the world and Africa, a vibrant hub of the global economy, still remain out of UN Security Council," Mukherjee said.

On increasing investments by Indian companies in Ghana, the President said Indian business groups understand the potential and would be happy to invest if the right opportunities are given to them.

"The people of India fondly remember Dr Kwame Nkrumah, a great son of Ghana and a visionary leader of pan-Africanism.He embodied Africa's dignity, and inspired the peoples and the governments of African countries to claim their rightful place in global affairs," he said.

The elaborate banquet which saw traditional African dishes with Bollywood numbers playing in the backdrop was hosted at the flag staff college which has been constructed by a noted Indian builder.

Mukherjee presented to Mahama a photograph of India's first President Rajendra Prasad meeting Nkrumah in Rashtrapati Bhavan as he stressed that government of India seeks Ghana's continued support in fulfilling the vision of the Indo African Forum Summit held in New Delhi last year.

Lauding Ghana's efforts in reducing poverty levels to almost half and crossing the threshold to become a low income country, Mukherjee said India will continue to extend the hand of cooperation as it marches on the path of prosperity.

PTI