Closer collaboration between Angola and Ghana very necessary - Angolan Ambassador

The Angolan ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Augusto da Silva Cunha, has called for closer collaboration between Ghana and Angola in order to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

This call was made during an exclusive interview with ANGOP on the visit by the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to Angola from 8th to 9th August, 2019.

“It is a great time for all Ghanaians and Angolans with these high level engagements between the governments of our beloved countries. There exist the conditions and economic potential for both states to develop more effective relations for mutual benefits for both countries and the wellbeing of its citizens”, Ambassador Cunha stated.

Being the first visit to Angola by a Ghanaian president, high on the agenda was the launch of the foundation for an effective economic cooperation between the two countries. This resulted in the signing or three cooperation agreements, the most prominent being visa waiver for Diplomatic and Service passport holders.

During the discussion between the two presidents, the two governments countersigned other legal instruments in the fields of Education and the relaunch of the Joint Commission of Cooperation. Fields under this cooperation will include Environment, Science and Technology, Innovation, Aviation, Fisheries, Aquaculture, promotion of Investments, Export, Immigration, Food and Agriculture, Oil, Gas, Energy and Tourism.

The cooperation will be driven by the exchange of information, technology and research findings as well as the implementation of joint programs and the promotion of good governance practices across all fields.

These protocols represent a significant step in deepening the relations between Angola and Ghana, which had already signed in 2010 the General Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Permanent Consultations between the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

To avoid existing agreements and MOUs which are dormant, both governments have agreed to convene for the next two months for the sixth session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

Commenting on the Joint Economic Commission, Ambassador Cunha said “in order for the Joint Economic Commission to be revamped and meetings taking place, there must be commitment by both governments to speed up the economic partnership and trade between the two countries”.

He further stated that the agreements countersigned in Luanda was aimed to operationalize the Permanent Joint Economic Commission created in 1981 in Accra, which had not met since 2012. He also hinted on the arrangements being made for a Business Forum in Angola to allow greater knowledge of the national market, while supporting the creation of an Angola - Ghana Chamber of Commerce.