Ghana and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana have committed to strengthening bilateral relations as the two countries continue to explore common interests through their strategic engagement and partnerships.
On the back of the renewed interest between the two countries, the President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, said the Guyana-Ghana partnership is “not one of the usual engagements or talks” but one to which both countries had laid out clearly defined expected outcomes.
“We are very excited about this strategic partnership; it is receiving attention from the highest levels of government,” he added.
President Ali was speaking at a State Dinner in honour of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and said on the side-lines of the recent UN General Assembly meeting: “We held bilateral meetings with Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, and within weeks a timetable to design and achieve a framework for strategic cooperation was in place”.
This led to the visit of Guyana’s Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, to Ghana a few weeks later. And the subsequent visit by Ghana’s Vice President Dr. Bawumia to Guyana, to further work on the framework.
“This is a sign of concrete progress, and we will continue to engage and agree on practical steps to develop policies for the mutual benefit of our two countries,” President Ali said.
Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Bawumia, promised “rigorous, open and mutually beneficial” discussions between Ghana government officials and private sector leaders with their Guyanese counterparts, with the ultimate aim of knowledge-sharing and improved livelihoods for their citizens
He said: “Ghana and Guyana have long, historic ties. We are both robust democracies, have similar natural resources, and science tells us that we were all part of one continent until the continental shelves broke apart and drifted away.
“Our histories are very similar as well, and our bonds are very strong. This, I believe, forms the basis for a lasting partnership as we work together to design and put in place measures which position us as masters of our destinies.”
Vice President Bawumia is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with the president and senior officials of Guyana meet with leadership of the University of Guyana, to among others explore ways for capacity building and participate in a forum of the Ghanaian and Guyanese private sector.
He is also expected to meet with the Ghanaian community in Guyana before returning to Ghana.
