Ghana and Portugal forge stronger ties in defense and trade agreements
During a momentous state visit to Portugal on Tuesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and his Portuguese counterpart, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, inked pivotal bilateral instruments of co-operation. These far-reaching agreements encompassed key areas such as defense, political consultation, and trade, signaling a significant step forward in strengthening the bonds of friendship and collaboration between the two nations.
President Akufo-Addo underscored Ghana’s resolute commitment to charting a new economic trajectory, distancing itself from a historical reliance on raw material production and exports, as well as foreign aid. The Ghanaian leader expressed his aspiration to cultivate a value-added, industrialized economy with a modernized agricultural sector that stands independent from the fluctuations of the global economic order. This, he stated, is pivotal to nurturing robust relations with Portugal and the broader international community, with an emphasis on fostering increased trade and investment co-operation.
The high-level discussions during the state visit focused on fostering political, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges, while emphasizing the importance of multilateral engagement in pursuit of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Ghana-Portugal Business Forum, scheduled to take place on the sidelines, is expected to bolster investment initiatives, further enhancing economic engagement between the two nations.
President Akufo-Addo lauded Portugal’s commitment to advocating for Ghana’s interests within the European Union, while reciprocating with support to facilitate Portugal’s economic engagement with member-countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This bilateral synergy is expected to elevate trade volumes and pave the way for shared prosperity among the people of both nations.
On global security matters, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the public calls by the United States President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron for UN Security Council reforms aligned with the Ezulwini consensus. The Ghanaian leader anticipates that the remaining three permanent members of the Security Council will endorse this reform process, demonstrating a collective commitment to addressing pressing challenges like poverty eradication, human rights violations, terrorism, and climate change.
During the visit, President Akufo-Addo was bestowed with the keys to the city of Lisbon by the Deputy Mayor, symbolizing the mutual respect and aspirations for strengthened trade relations between Ghana and Portugal. The President emphasized that a new paradigm must be crafted, driven by Ghana’s transformation into an industrialized economy, thus enabling mutually beneficial trade between the two nations. Such a transformation would see Ghana ascend the global value chain, trading in value-added products and bolstering prosperity for both nations.
President Akufo-Addo concluded his address with a firm resolve for Africa to embrace self-reliance, shedding the image of dependence on charity and foreign aid. Leveraging the continent’s abundant natural resources, he emphasized the imperative of pulling Africa out of poverty and realizing enduring prosperity through strategic economic growth and trade partnerships.
As Ghana and Portugal chart this path of enhanced co-operation, they pave the way for a new era of shared prosperity and strengthened ties on the global stage.
