Ghana and Botswana enhances friendly ties

Thursday, August 18, 2011

By Edmund Mingle
The governments of Ghana and Botswana yesterday agreed to re-activate their Joint Commission for Cooperation to advance economic partnership between the two nations.
The move was among a number of decisions taken during talks between President John Evans Atta Mills and Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of Botswana, at the Castle in Accra.
President Khama was in Ghana yesterday for a day’s State visit that aimed at strengthening Botswana’s ties with Ghana.
After discussing a wide range of bilateral issues, both Presidents affirmed their commitment to contribute to increased trade and partnership between both countries, which have been adjudged at among the fastest growing economies in the world.
They both agreed that there was a lot their nations could do together, and believe the reactivation of the Commission would create the necessary platform for a more beneficial economic cooperation.
Addressing journalist after their meeting which focused on collaboration in the areas of trade, agriculture, education, democracy and health service delivery, the two leaders gave the assurance their they would not allow the geographical gap between their nations to hinder effective economic cooperation.
President Mills noted that Ghana and Botswana had common development challenges, and that it was critical that they worked together to find common solutions.
“Our friendship should inure to the benefit of our people,” he said.
Reiterating his call for more intra-Africa trade, President Mills noted that Africa has enough resources which “we should work together to explore to the benefit of our people.”
Describing their discussions as a” useful one,” President Mills expressed appreciation for the visit by his counterpart, saying “we cherish our friendship with your country.”
President Khama, for his part, thanked Ghana for accepting to collaborate more with his country, and expressed his government’s commitment to the bilateral relationship.
He lauded Ghana’s economic and democratic progress, saying Botswana continued to draw lessons from Ghana.
President Kham expressed appreciation for the warm reception, and invited President Mill for a visit to his country.
Botswana was about three years ago adjudged the best fastest growing economy in Africa, and Ghana was recently adjudged the fastest growing economy in the world.
Botswana, with a population of about two million people, is one of Africa's most stable countries, and the continent's longest continuous multi-party democracy. It is relatively free of corruption and has a good human rights record.
It is also the world's largest producer of diamonds and that trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation.
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