Government to strengthen diplomatic, economic ties with Qatar — Prez
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says his government has strong intentions of building resilient and long-lasting diplomatic and economic relations with Qatar as a springboard to the other countries of the Gulf region.
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The President said such an arrangement with all the countries of the Gulf would draw in the necessary investments to help develop Ghana and return her onto the path of progress and prosperity.
He made this known when Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, an adviser to the Emir of Qatar, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency yesterday.
Preoccupation
He said his major preoccupation was how to build the economy in order to create employment, and generate prosperity for the mass of the people of Ghana.
The President told Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari that: “We think a country like yours could play a very important role in helping us achieve our objectives.”
President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that Ghana, over the years, had not done much in developing a good relationship with Qatar and gave an assurance that his government’s policy directive would be a sharp departure from that trend.
Ghana, he said, was open for business and that his government was trying to create a climate that would allow investors and investments into the country to feel secure.
That security, President Akufo-Addo, said would not only be within the ambit of standard issues of appropriations, but feeling secure to operate in a stable environment as well.
Investment opportunities
In that direction, he told Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari of the many investment opportunities available for Qatari businesses in Ghana, in areas including participation in the country’s significant oil and gas resources, the development of the country’s infrastructure, the building of the nation’s railways, among others.
The President noted that all those development opportunities could be realised when the appropriate formal, diplomatic relations between the two countries were well structured and functioning.
Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari was grateful for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation by President Akufo-Addo.
He said the purpose of his visit was to “bridge the relations between the two countries”, in view of the numerous opportunities and areas of cooperation that abound for the two countries to explore and exploit to mutual benefit.
In that regard, he stressed the need to work together to explore the possibilities in all the available fields.
‘The political will is there’
“The political will is there, and I promise you that my visit is an important step for the relations between our two countries,” he added.
Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, on behalf of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, extended an invitation to the President to visit Qatar to hold bilateral discussions aimed at establishing and strengthening ties between the two countries.
He also used the opportunity to elicit Ghana’s support for his candidature for the position of Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).