Six envoys present credentials to President

Friday, September 9, 2011

By Edmund Mingle

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday received Letters of Credence from six new foreign envoys to Ghana, with a call on them to work hard to boost the economic relations between Ghana and the respective countries.

He said there was need to take advantage of the gains made in the flourishing diplomatic relations to for more economic cooperation between Ghana and their nations.

Receiving the Credentials from the ambassadors separately at the Castle, Osu in Accra, President Mills said Ghana was fully committed to cooperate in areas that would accrue mutual benefits to Ghana and its partners, and urged the new envoys to help in promoting quality partnership between Ghana and their home countries.

The new Ambassadors are Maheyub Buyema Mahafu from Sahrawi, Ms. Sharon Bar-Li from Israel, Mrs. Irene Vida Gala from Brazil, Mekprayoonthong from Thailand, Carsten Nilaus Pedersen from Denmark and Mrs. Maria Susana Pataro from Argentina.

President assured the envoys of his administration’s support and cooperation to enable them to deliver, saying “we want to raise our relations to a higher pedestal.”

Reiterating his call for more south-south cooperation, he said “there is the need to combine our strengths for the benefit of our people.”

He thanked the countries like Denmark, Thailand and Brazil for the continuous cooperation and assistance offered Ghana in the areas of agriculture and health, and assured the governments of Sahrawi, Argentina and Israel of more trade from Ghana.

President Mills urged the envoys to feel at home and promote economic diplomacy since barriers to trade have to be removed to ensure economic growth.

He conveyed best wishes to the governments of the new ambassadors, and reaffirmed that Ghana would continue to provide the congenial atmosphere for investments from those countries to strive.
On the political front, President Mills gave the assurance that Ghana would continue to protect its peace and promote democracy and the rule of law, and assured other countries of support in enhancing their democracies and good governance.

The Ambassadors, in their responses, expressed appreciation to President Mills for accepting them to serve in Ghana, and promised build on the gains made in the relations between Ghana and their respective nations.

Ambassador Mahafu of Sahrawi said he was honoured to be representing his country in Ghana, indicating that Ghana remains an inspiration to Sahrawi in its forward march for stronger democracy and economic development.

He commended Ghana for the democratic and economic progress, and expressed optimism that Sahrawi would enjoy the support of Ghana and other nations to able to advance its national development.

Mrs. Bar-Li of Israel, for her part, thanked Ghana for the cooperation with Israeli investors currently operating in Ghana, believed that there was more for improvement for the ties between the two countries.

“We are here to consolidate our friendship,” she said.

Mrs. Gala of Brazil, was optimistic that she would receive the need support and cooperation from the government to enable her to give off her best in carrying out the critical mission of further developing the ties between Ghana and Brazil.

“Brazil is proud to be associated with Ghana in the efforts to eradicate poverty and enhance development,” she said, adding that “the areas of cooperation are as many as the number of common development challenges facing Ghana and Brazil.”

For his part, Mekprayoonthong of Thailand, promised to enhance the economic, social and cultural collaboration between the two nations especially in expanding cooperation in the areas of agro-processing, fish farming and infrastructure development.

Similarly, Ambassador Pedersen of Denmark, lauded the excellent relations between Ghana and Denmark, and assured Ghana of more development support from his that country.

Mrs. Pataro of Argentina, for her part, said “we are fully committed to work with all public and private sector institutions in Ghana in enhancing our bilateral ties, and we are thankful for your kind support in allowing us to achieve this goal.”

According to her, Argentina shared with Ghana concerns on major global challenges such as food security, climate change, terrorism, peace and security, indicating that Brazil was determined to continue to continue to partner Ghana to address challenges that adversely affect the welfare of the citizenry.
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