Ghana-Seychelles relations are the continuation of a  long history -Seychelles Consulate

The recent state visit to Ghana by President Wavel Ramkalawan of Seychelles aimed at rekindling historic relations spanning over 120 years and strengthening bi­lateral relations between the two countries. The Ghanaian Times had a conversation with the Consul of the Republic of Seychelles to Ghana, Mr Kwame N. Acquah.

Below are excerpts from the interview held on December 3, 2024 in Accra.

Ques:- What are the historical events that have shaped and fos­tered Ghana-Seychelles relations?

Ans:- The Ghana – Seychelles relationship is unique. Over 120 years ago, the King of Asante, Otumfuo Nana Agyeman Prem­peh I, then only 26, was banned from his ancestral homeland for resisting the colonial British demands that his territory be swallowed up into the expanding Gold Coast protectorate. To avert an invasion, he surrendered, and was captured along with his par­ents and about 50 other relatives, chiefs and servants as prisoners and taken into exile, first to Sierra Leone and later, to Seychelles where he lived as a Royal. Albeit in captivity, he made sure not to tarnish his image, by living in harmony with the indigenous people, his hosts. He became a farmer, and traditional healer, and set up a treatment centre using traditional medicine. His residence still exits in Seychelles today, with traces of the way he lived, right down to where he poured libation and prayed to our ancestors. He returned to his homeland in Asante in 1924, after 24 years in exile. It was for this commemoration marking 100 years of his return to Ghana that President Ramkalawan came to Ghana.

Ques:- How is this historic return being commemorated?

Ans:- An exhibition was launched in Seychelles on the 11th of November 2024. The significance of that date being the day Nana Agyeman Prempeh I arrived in Ghana marking his return from exile. The exhibition was scheduled for two weeks but it’s been such a resounding success that the Institute of Culture has extended the date to the end of February 2025. School children from public, private and international schools in Mahe, which is the main island, above the stage of primary five are visiting this exhibition. This is wonderful to see as our culture is now being narrated from the Ghanaian perspective in Sey­chelles. In the wake of this, we have established the pathway for bilateral cooperation between our two countries that seeks to serve both economic and cultural development.

Ques:- What would you say is the nexus of this Ghana-Sey­chelles relations, which seems to have been on the quiet side until the President’s arrival?

Ans:- It’s a very deep nexus, and, yes, a rather quiet one. This maiden, historic visit, of a sitting President, to Ghana is the start. It is the continuation of a long history, but the start of a much deeper relationship. It’s led to the creation of the framework for bilateral cooperation between our countries.

Ques:- Could you take us through this framework you alluded to?

Ans:- We have various Mem­orandum of Understandings in different fields of cooperation, in areas like Culture, Tourism, Education and Transportation.

We are in the final stages of concluding Framework Agree­ments in the Fisheries and Aqua­culture, Health and Trade sectors. These are technical agreements, what you call a BASA – Bilateral Air Service Agreement – which are administrative agreement allowing the two countries to work on the Transport industry, for example, and opens the doors for further collaboration.

In the Education sector, the first one is a cooperation agreement between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the Univer­sity of Seychelles. The final stage is being ratified.

We will also have a cooperation agreement at the teaching level, at the students’ level, and at the scholarship level between the two universities. The University of Seychelles is a fairly young university, only 15 years old so we will be benefitting from the expertise of the Kwame Nkru­mah University of Science and Technology, which is over 70 years old.

The second level of activation is within the Trade and Educa­tion sectors. Currently we have nine Ghanaian teachers teaching in high schools in Seychelles. They have helped transfer our Culture, our Traditions and our way of thinking to the Seychelles work community.

Under education, there is a high-level Framework Agreement between the governments, signed by their respective ministries. At the next level, universities are en­gaging in technical cooperation, which we aim to expand further. Additionally, we are exploring a partnership with Right to Dream, the football academy in the East­ern Region, to provide education in football for talented young male and female footballers from Seychelles.

Looking at culture, in Ghana you have the Ministry of Culture and Tourism merged as one. The Seychelles on the other hand has an Institute of Culture, rather than a Ministry, because the Ministry tends to be directed by the Minister or the Government of the day but when you have an Institute, it transcends that. Culture is about people to people connections and it’s a fixed part of our system, hence the exhibi­tion we had in Seychelles.

Under Transportation, the Bilateral Air Service Agree­ment is what will activate an Air Transport or the direct flights to Ghana.

Seychelles’ biggest export is Tourism and because of its im­portance the Minister of Foreign Affairs is also the Minister of Tourism. This dual role enables the Foreign Minister to put a tourism agenda on the table wherever he visits globally.

Under Tourism, we are in discussions with an airline to run a direct route from Seychelles to Nana Agyeman Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi, to foster the bonds of unity be­tween Ghana and the Seychelles.

Seychelles has the name of Nana Prempeh ingrained into its story. Now, how do we ensure that this tapestry is transformed to a sight of joy and transformed into a living testimony of resil­ience? Looking at what Nana Prempeh I achieved was with great foresight. It was almost revolutionary because he stooped to conquer.

He refrained from antagonis­ing his colonial aggressors, but rather chose to learn their lan­guage, understand their ways, in which he excelled, or dare I say, he beat them at their own game!

He sacrificed himself, accept­ed to go to an unknown land, to completely uncharted waters, so that his people would gain… Self-sacrifice is the highest form of human purity, in my opinion.

Under Health, there are many Ghanaian doctors and nurses that have worked tirelessly in Seychelles since the 1980s. One famous name is the late Dr Col­onel Brew-Graves, who worked selflessly and made sure the Gha­na flag was always flying high. Currently we have 10 Ghanaian Nurses and Doctors working in Seychelles and we are going to expand on that.

Ques:- What about inter­national peace and security in Africa? Are the two nations collaborating to promote this?

Ans:- Yes, we are doing that from our active engagement at various Regional collaborations that we are members of. Sey­chelles is an active member of the AU, an active member of various Regional bodies like SA­DAC and the small island states. So Seychelles, at the moment, has worked very hard with Ghana for the election of Shirley Ayor­kor Botchwey as our incoming Secretary General of the Com­monwealth. Now, that is a huge affirmation of support because there were other candidates from countries closer to Seychelles geographically.

Ques:- What do you do as the Consul?

Ans:- The consulate of Sey­chelles in Ghana was established in 2016, to represent the Govern­ment of Seychelles in Ghana in facilitating Trade, Cultural,

Diplomatic and Economic ties.

The purpose is to look after Seychelles’ interest in Ghana. We have evolved; we have developed things to a point where now we are actively promoting trade, cultural ties and development between the two countries.

BY ALHAJI SALIFU ABDUL-RAHAMAN