VOA标准英语2008年-Bush: US-Ghana Ties Strong and Enduring

U.S. President George Bush is hosting Ghana's President John Kufour on an official state visit to Washington. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.
　
President Bush and Ghana's President John Kufuor share a laugh during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, 15 Sept. 2008

President Bush and President Kufour walked through a ceremonial inspection¹ of American troops watched by hundreds of people, many in brightly-colored African cloth.

President Bush says the ties of friendship between Ghana and the United States are strong and enduring.

"Today, Ghana and America are still bound by our love for liberty, and we stand as one in our efforts to safeguard that freedom. Ghana and America stand as one as we work to secure freedom from poverty. Ghana's leaders are governing justly, fighting corruption², and investing in their people. And America is proud to support these efforts through our Millennium³ Challenge Compact."

The Untied⁴ States has a five-year, $547 million compact with Ghana aimed at reducing poverty by raising agricultural incomes through private-sector⁵-led development.

President Bush created the Millennium Challenge fund to redirect U.S. aid to countries that practice good governance, respect for the rule of law, open markets, and investment in health and education.

Commercial ties between Ghana and the United States are up more than 55 percent since President Bush and President Kufour took office - last year totaling more than $600 million.

President Kufour thanked the president for extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which allows Ghanaian businesses duty- and quota-free access to U.S. markets for more than six-thousand kinds of goods. He says the country is hoping for additional U.S. investment in Ghana's emerging oil sector after a U.S. firm made Ghana's first major find last year.

President Kufour says the enduring strength of his government is its commitment to good governance and its promotion⁶ of the private sector as the main engine for economic growth.

"These principles have gained for Ghana international recognition as a stable and transparent⁷ nation, attractive for increased economic investments and activities - and that translates into general improvements in the lives of her people," he said.

Both men are nearing the end of their presidencies⁸ with U.S. elections in November and Ghanaian elections in December.

President Bush says Ghana is in the middle of a lively election season marked by spirited debate and close-fought contests, similar to America's presidential race.

"Whatever the outcome, Ghana is showing Africa that democracy is not a challenge to be feared, but a sure path to prosperity and peace," he said. "Ghana and America stand as one in our work to promote peace. Ghana is a vital partner in our efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur. Ghana has more than 3,000 peacekeepers serving around the world - from Liberia and the Congo to Kosovo and Georgia."

President Kufour says Ghana is committed to the rule of law and respect for the different cultures of democracy.

"My government is fully⁹ committed to supporting the conduct of a free and fair electoral process in the impending¹⁰ presidential and parliamentary elections this coming December, to which we welcome international observers," he said.

The president and Mrs. Bush will hold a state dinner in honor of Ghana's President and first lady, returning the courtesy shown Mr. and Mrs. Bush during their visit to Ghana in February.

At that dinner, President Kufour renamed a main road in the capital the George Bush Motorway¹¹.

Welcoming the president to the White House, Mr. Bush joked that he looks forward to visiting Accra again once he is out of office so he can see the highway without stopping so much traffic.

 

1 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

4 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

7 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

8 presidencies   

n.总统的职位( presidency的名词复数 )；总统的任期

参考例句：

• The Dalai Lama previously visited the island during the presidencies of Chen Shui-bian and Lee Teng-hui. 曾经获得诺贝尔和平奖的达赖喇嘛，此前曾在李登辉和陈水扁主政期间访问台湾。 来自互联网

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

10 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

11 motorway   

n.高速公路，快车道

参考例句：

• Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.我们的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。
• A maniac driver sped 35 miles along the wrong side of a motorway at 110 mph.一个疯狂的司机以每小时110英里的速度在高速公路上逆行飙车35英里。