Ghana and Seychelles have committed to deepening their bilateral relations through further collaboration in key areas such as trade, tourism, education, environmental conservation, and maritime security.
The commitment was made during the historic visit by Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Mrs Linda Ramkalawan to Ghana last Thursday.
He and his entourage were received at the Jubilee House, Accra, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
During their discussions, the two leaders agreed to explore new avenues for collaboration, with greater focus on boosting trade, fostering cultural exchanges, and addressing the pressing challenges of climate change.
They both acknowledged the importance of maritime security, particularly in tackling issues such as illegal fishing and piracy, and expressed their determination to work together to safeguard African waters.
The partnership is poised to offer significant benefits, with Ghana’s role as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and Seychelles’ leadership in sustainable tourism and ocean conservation serving as key pillars for future cooperation.
President Akufo-Addo said the Seychellois President’s visit underscored the growing ties between the two nations.
“This occasion underscores the strong ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between our two nations, united not only by our shared values but also by our aspirations for freedom, democracy, development, peace, and prosperity,” he said.
He therefore expressed his confidence in the potential of the partnership to bring mutual benefits, stressing that “Both Ghana and Seychelles are committed to fostering inclusive economic growth, and I believe our partnership holds immense potential for mutually beneficial trade and investment.”
President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana, as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, was eager to collaborate with Seychelles to enhance intra-African trade.
The two leaders also discussed the urgency of addressing climate change, with President Akufo-Addo praising Seychelles for its leadership in ocean conservation and maritime biodiversity preservation.
On his part, President Ramkalawan expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated his commitment to deepening the bilateral ties between the two nations.
Both Seychelles and Ghana are also members of the Commonwealth and the United Nations
BY CLIFF EKUFUL