Ghana, Morocco Renew Ties

July 30, 2015

By Edmund Mingle

MadamM’Hammdi, delivering her address while Mrs. Dzifa Attivor,
 Transport Minister, looks on.

Ghana and Morocco have renewed their bilateral ties in which the two have recommitted themselves to intensified economic cooperation.

The relationship between the two countries was rejuvenated this year with the opening of the first Joint-Commission for Cooperation in Rabat, resulting in opening up partnerships between Ghanaians and 

Moroccans.

At a reception in Accra on Thursday to commemorate the Kingdom of Morocco’s National Day celebrated with The Feast of the Throne,  Madam Nezha Alaoui M’Hammdi, Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana and Mrs. Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport, conveyed their respective governments’ commitment to their friendship.

According to the Ambassador, recent developments including the signing of various bilateral agreements and the increase in investment by Moroccans in Ghana, pointed the high confidence the two countries had in each other.

Proposing the toast, she said the first joint commission meeting has set the pace for cooperation in areas of common interest such as tourism, trade, marine fisheries, transport and energy sectors.

In that regard, she announced that a Moroccan business delegation was expected to visit Ghana soon to explore investment and partnership opportunities with the Ghanaian private sector.

“I express the wish that the new progressive dynamics now engaged between our two countries, marks the renewal, the rebirth of the age-old ties of friendship and solidarity dating back to Casablanca conference in 1961, for the beneficial partnership for both Moroccan and Ghanaian populations,” she said.

She was optimistic that the growing friendship will continue to create the platform for sharing of ideas towards addressing common developmental challenges, adding that Morocco admires Ghana’s democratic values.

“Ghana continues to exhibit strong leadership in democratic governance in Africa, and it is a confirmation of the degree of maturity and entrenchment of Ghana’s democratic culture,” she observed.

On the continental scale, she noted that Morocco attached priority to development, peace, stability and security in Africa, adding that its action is inspired by the secular civilisation that aims at promoting shared peace and prosperity.

She said Morocco believes in the need for collective effort to combat security threats posed by extremism, saying because such threats affect all countries, there was the need “for an inter-regional collective and inclusive response from North, East, Central and West Africa.”

Mrs. Attivor, responding to the toast, said Ghana was impressed with the unparalleled economic and democratic development in Morocco.

“The fact that Morocco was spared the Arab-spring that engulfed parts of North Africa, is a testament of the confidence the people have in the leadership of the King of Morocco, and his government’s democratic and development interventions,” she said.

She also commended Morocco for the role has played and continue to play in the resolution of conflicts in Africa, such as the Malian crisis, as our two countries have a shared interest in ensuring regional peace.

She conveyed the government’s felicitations to the King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI on the 16^th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, lauded the democratic and economic reforms achieved by his leadership.

In addition, she expressed Ghana’s commitment to the friendship with Morocco, and trusted that the recent bilateral agreements would bear significant dividends for the two sides.