4 New envoys present letters of credence to President Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday received letters of credence from envoys from Britain, Nigeria, Angola and Burkina Faso accredited to serve their respective countries in Ghana.
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They are the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Lain Walker, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Femi Michael Abikoye, Angolan Ambassador, Mr Augusto da Silva Cunhu, and the Burkinabe Ambassador, Mr Pingrenoma Zagre.
President Akufo-Addo in his remarks spoke of the strong links that existed between Ghana and the other countries.
Ghana and the UK
Receiving the letters of credence from Mr Walker, President Akufo-Addo elaborated on the relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom (UK).
He recalled Ghana’s independence from Britain in 1957 and the chequered experiences that the country had gone through since then to its present stage of development.
“Today, we are a strong growing democracy. We are an open society; a country where individual rights and liberties are respected, which recognises the importance of freedom,” he said.
The President said in the quest to promote rapid economic growth that would create jobs he would be counting on an increased investment from the UK.
“We are counting on receiving increasing British investment in our country, just like we are also looking at heightening the trade between Ghanaian businesses and UK firms as well,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo urged the ambassadors and high commissioners to work together with the country in the realisation of its programmes and policies.
The President said such a mutual arrangement would ultimately inure to the benefit of Ghanaians and the citizens of their countries.
“We treasure our relationship. We’ve found a way to turn what was an unequal relationship to an equal relationship of partners,” the President said.
Ties and bonds
In his remarks, Mr Walker said the UK would always be guided by the longstanding relations that existed between the two countries during his duty tour in Ghana.
“We see your ambition and will match this with action, not words. Where you ask us, we will help you drive reform: practical, pragmatic change to demonstrably improve the business environment. And I commit that I will persuade more UK businesses to invest and partner with Ghanaian firms to create jobs and prosperity for both Ghana and UK,” he pledged.
Taking his turn to present his letters of credence, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Abikoye, pledged to work to deepen friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between Ghana and Nigeria.
Commitments
“I wish to solemnly assure your Excellency that during my tenure of office, I will exert my efforts to expand and deepen friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our governments and peoples of Nigeria-Ghana relations to a new height.”
Mr Cunhu from Angola and Mr Zagre of Burkina Faso also reiterated their countries’ commitment to taking the relations with Ghana to new levels.
They were optimistic that the economic links between Ghana and their respective countries would further the lots of the people of the respective countries and create better opportunities for the future.
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