Italy marks national day in Kumasi
The newly appointed Italian Ambassador to Ghana and Togo, Dr Laura Carpini, joined a section of the Italian business community and dignitaries in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs last Thursday to celebrate Italy’s 67th national day.
She made a firm commitment to create a friendly environment that would cement the cordial relationship between Italy and Ghana.
Dr Carpini also promised to support the development initiatives of Ghanaians working in Italy and encourage them to create wealth that would enable them to invest in Ghana.
That, she noted, would accelerate socio-economic development in the country.
The Akyempemhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku, represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the function. The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Yaw Adusei; the Executive Vice-President of the Golden Star Resources, Mr Daniel Owiredu, and the Managing Director of Akuafo Adamfo Cocoa Buying Company, Mr Tony Bou-Dip, also attended the programme which was organised by the Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy, Mr Stefano Ramella Pezza.
The celebration of the Italian national day has now become an annual affair in Kumasi since the Managing Director of Consar Construction, Mr Pezza, was appointed the Honorary Consul in Ghana four years ago. It has been creating the requisite platform on which the business community in Italy, the academia, traditional rulers and a cross-section of the public meet to have fruitful and meaningful interaction to promote its economic and social interest.
Dr Carpini, who joined the Italian Foreign Service in 1994, after graduating from University of Florence in 1992, commended Ghanaians working in Italy for their hard work and respect for the rule of law.
"Let me ideally salute the 50,000 Ghanaian citizens resident in Italy," she noted, stressing that like Italy, Ghana had also been creating a friendly environment for a larger Italian business community.
"Ghana and Italy share a common vision on democracy and rule of law, as well as respect for human rights and the promotion of peace and multilateralism," she further stated, and added that "Italy is the EU member state that contributes majority of the Union’s budget and military personnel to the UN peace-keeping operations, and in the same way in Africa, Ghana is among the leading contributors of military personnel to these operations."
"As one of the founder members of the European Union, Italy would support Ghana in promoting democratic institutions," she assured.
Dr Carpini commended the Honorary Vice-Consul, Mr Pezza, for promoting the interests of Italians in Ghana and urged him to sustain it.
On behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Akyempemhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku, commended the Italian government for supporting Italians to establish first class construction firms in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs.
While welcoming Dr Carpini to Ghana, Oheneba Adusei Poku urged her to initiate policies and programmes that would be mutually beneficial to the two countries.
He assured her of the Asanteman Council's support to promote the interest of Italians to enhance the bilateral relationship between Ghana and Italy.
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi