The 78th Independence Anniversary celebration of Israel was marked in Accra by the Israeli Embassy, with a renewed commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Ghana.
Speaking at a reception in Accra on Thursday to mark the occasion, the Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr Roey Gilad, highlighted Ghana’s contribution to peace efforts between Israel and Lebanon, particularly through the service of Ghanaian soldiers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
He stated that Israel was currently engaged in peace talks with Lebanon and noted that both countries shared important common interests, including the need to end the presence of the armed group Hizballah in Lebanon.
Mr Gilad expressed appreciation to Ghana for the dedicated service of thousands of its soldiers as part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
He further noted that with the mandate of the peacekeeping force coming to an end this year, Ghana’s contribution to regional and international peace efforts remained highly valued.
He also indicated that Israel had, over the years, contributed to Ghana’s development, particularly in agriculture, adding that cooperation between the two countries continued to expand into areas such as cybersecurity, fintech, defence and energy.
According to him, with the support of partners including the Government and people of Ghana, Israel was confident in its ability to overcome its challenges and build a future marked by stability, prosperity and peace.
The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, who represented President John Dramani Mahama and the Government of Ghana, stated that Israel’s achievements had been underpinned by resilience, determination and innovation, which had shaped its development over the years.
He noted that Ghana’s partnership with Israel had been strengthened in recent times through structured engagements such as the Ghana–Israel Political Consultation held in Jerusalem earlier this year.
Mr Adjei explained that such engagements enabled both countries to review ongoing cooperation and identify priority areas for expansion in line with Ghana’s development agenda.
He stated that beyond official engagements, Ghana attached great importance to growing people-to-people ties with Israel.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the principles of peace, dialogue and mutual respect, which continued to guide bilateral relations.
He added that as Israel marked 78 years of nationhood, Ghana extended its best wishes for peace and prosperity to Israel and the wider Middle East.
Mr Adjei further reiterated Ghana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through sustained dialogue, meaningful partnership and a shared sense of purpose.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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