Ghana to open embassy in Turkey

Ghana plans to establish an Embassy in Turkey to further consolidate trade relations with that country.

President John Evans Atta Mill who announced this said Turkey offered immense economic opportunities which could be exploited with the establishment 0f an embassy there, and described the move as "strategic."

President Mills announced this when the outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Kenar Tepedelen, called on him at the Castle in Accra Wednesday, to bid him farewell after his two-year official tour of Ghana.

Turkey opened its Embassy in Accra two years ago following which trade between the two nations surged, and the President believes that there is the need for Ghana to reciprocate to demonstrate its commitment to the bilateral relations by opening its embassy in that country.

The balance of trade between Ghana and Turkey, which has been targeted to reach one billion dollars in 2015, increased from 175million dollars in 2010 when the embassy was opened in Accra to 448million dollars at the end of 2011.

President Mil1s lauded the improvement in the trade balance and said he was happy that more Ghanaian investors had been attracted to businesses in Turkey.

The President commended the outgoing Ambassador for his contributions to the advancement of the relations between the two nations and assured that the support offered him would be extended to his successor.

Ambassador Tepedelen, on his part, expressed his appreciation to the government for the immense support and cooperation he enjoyed, indicating that that contributed to the success of his work in Ghana.

He said he was glad to have witnessed economic transformation in Ghana. The outgoing Ambassador, who was presented with parting gifts, was optimistic that his successor would build on the foundation laid for progressive relations between the two nations.