Ghana Will Continue To Draw Lessons From India – Veep

By Edmund Mingle

Vice President Amissah-Arthur

The Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur says Ghana will continue to draw inspiration from India’s industrialisation, as the country makes efforts to revamp its industrial sector.

According to him, India’s economic development offers valuable lessons for Ghana, and therefore, the government would continue to partner the Indian government in undertaking essential initiatives particularly for the trade and industrial sectors.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who said this when the outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. K. Jeeva Sagar, called on him at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday to bid farewell after ending his duty tour of Ghana, stressed that Ghana values its relationship with India.

India, classified as a newly industrialised country, is the seventh-largest economy in the world measured by nominal GDP, and according to the World Bank and IMF, it has the potential to become the third largest economy by the next decade.

The Vice President indicated that Ghana continues to follow the growth of India with keen interest, adding that the relationship with India offers many development opportunities.

He was particularly happy about the enhanced economic relations between the two countries that had led to increased trade and as well as partnerships in the development of Ghana’s agriculture, health, education and industrial sectors.

“We know the bilateral relationship is growing stronger,” he said, and thanked the Indian government for the support advanced to Ghana.

Trade volume between the two countries is projected to increase from the 3billion dollars recorded in 2015 to five billion dollars by 2020, and the Vice President expressed government’s commitment to work towards achieving that target.

Touching on the performance of the outgoing High Commissioner, who is also accredited to Togo, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone, Vice President Amissah-Arthur commended him for his immense contribution towards the strengthening of the ties between the two countries.

He wished him well, and urged him to continue to be an ambassador of Ghana in his future assignments.

Mr Jeeva Sagar (left) presenting a gift to Vice-President Amissah-Arthur

Bidding farewell, Mr. Sagar also commended Ghana for the socio-economic progress over the past few years.

He thanked the government, and particularly the Vice President for the support and cooperation which enabled him to work effectively, adding that the improved bilateral relations would inure to the benefit of the people of the two countries.

“India considers Ghana as a reliable partner,” he said, adding that almost every dimension of the relationship has witnessed significant growth

Touching on trade, he called for more value addition on Ghanaian exports to India so that Ghana could gain more from the balance of trade.

“I leave this country with a sense of fulfillment,” he said, and wished Ghana a successful general election in November.

As a farewell gift, the Vice President presented a traditional stool and kente cloth to the outgoing High Commissioner