Israel eyes expanded economic, cultural ties with Ghana – Deputy Foreign Minister

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Miriam Haskel, has pledged to deepen the longstanding ties between Israel and Ghana.

During her first official visit, Haskel highlighted new opportunities for economic, cultural, and strategic collaboration between the two nations.

The economic cooperation between Ghana and Israel continues to strengthen, with trade volumes from January to September 2024 reaching $5.4 million in exports and $1.9 million in imports.

Despite a notable decline in trade volumes in 2022, which dropped nearly $22 million partly due to the ongoing war, Israel remains committed to revitalizing and expanding economic ties with Ghana.

Speaking to journalists in Accra after attending President John Dramani Mahama's inauguration, Deputy Minister Mrs Haskel emphasized that strategic measures were being implemented to boost exports and imports while fostering mutual economic growth.

Though the war had impacted trade significantly, Israel was determined to explore new opportunities and strengthen its partnership with Ghana, the Deputy Foreign Minister stated, expressing optimism about the potential for increased trade between the two nations.

She described her visit as a symbolic message from the Israeli government to strengthen the enduring friendship between Ghana and Israel.

Accompanied by the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, and his wife, Nitza, and officials of the Israeli Embassy in Accra, the Deputy Foreign Minister underscored Israel’s commitment to fostering partnerships that mutually benefited both countries.

“This is my first official visit since being appointed two months ago,” she said, and that her visit to Ghana to reaffirms the Israeli Government’s dedication to enhancing the longstanding bond with the Ghanaian people.

“As President Mahama mentioned in his inaugural speech, Ghana is open for business, and so is Israel,” she stated.

Deputy Minister Haskel highlighted the historical and cultural parallels between Israel and Ghana, emphasizing shared values and aspirations.

She said, “We have much to learn from each other and many opportunities to collaborate.”

Mrs Haskel expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by Ghanaians during Israel’s recent challenges, saying “We have received countless messages and prayers from the Ghanaian people, and their unwavering support has been a source of strength for us.” she said.

“I cannot explain how much strength it actually gives Israelis to see what true friends we have. Because during difficult periods of time, that’s when you discover you’re true friends. And the Ghanan people sharing their love and their prayer has really stood up,” she conveyed.

Mrs Haskel, also a Member of Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) emphasized that “we are very grateful to have such strong alliance and friendship with the Ghanan people.”

The Deputy Foreign Minister also extended invitations to President Mahama to visit Israel for further official engagements as “It would be an honor to host them and further demonstrate Israel’s capabilities and commitment to this partnership”.

She said Ghana’s commitments to agriculture and food security aligned perfectly with Israel’s advancements in farming technology, and that the country would explore ways to share knowledge and resources to address those critical issues.

Mrs Haskel outlined several key areas for collaboration, including advanced farming techniques, cybersecurity, and renewable energy, highlighting the immense potential for solar energy development in Ghana.

Israel’s cutting-edge solar technology could play a pivotal role in supporting Ghana’s energy needs, she said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Haskel’s visit to Ghana is part of a broader vision to strengthen Israel’s global partnerships, especially in Africa.

Thus, she acknowledged the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir’s dedication to African nations, noting that this legacy continued to inspire Israel’s foreign policy.

“Prime Minister Meir saw Africa as a key partner in mutual growth and development. Her vision is one we continue to uphold,” Mrs Haskel said.

She expressed optimism about the future of Ghana-Israel relations to achieve remarkable progress.

Ambassador Roey Gilad emphasized the importance of translating the strong bilateral ties into actionable projects as Israel aimed to advance economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation with Ghana to yield tangible benefits for both nations.

He said discussions with the President and Vice President focused, among other things, on trade and investment, including the potential for new fields like cyber and solar energy to make the economic partnership more significant.