Ghana and Norway strengthen cooperation | Ghana News Agency (GNA)

He said that the Norwegian program "Oil for Development"
Program ", which has been running successfully for more than a decade, has
strengthening Ghana's capacity to manage its oil resources.

The President said that when the
Visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg paid a courtesy call on
Jubilee House, as part of his two-day official visit to Ghana.

He welcomed Norway's new partner
country initiative, which aims to ensure that partner countries become
independent of aid in the long term, stating: "This fits perfectly into
Government's vision of "Ghana Beyond Aid".

President Akufo-Addo said that Ghana and Norway
has enjoyed fruitful relations for many years and the Prime Minister's visit
Solberg, the first by a leader of this country, aimed to strengthen
the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation that already exist between the two
nations.

He noted that Ghana and Norway shared
similar positions on many issues, in particular the mutual attachment to the UN
Sustainable development, at the Paris climate agreement, at the
strengthening of the multilateral system of international cooperation and
the need to use peaceful means to resolve disputes.

President rebadured Norwegian leader
Ghana's commitment to finding durable solutions to the major problems of
day.

"I want to badure you that the Republic of
Ghana will continue to work with the Kingdom of Norway bilaterally
at the multilateral level, to find solutions to challenges such as
the eradication of widespread poverty, the elimination of irregular migration,
insecurity and violations of human rights, terrorism and violent extremism,
drug trafficking, piracy, as well as climate change and its consequences
impact on the environment and livelihoods, "he added.

President Akufo-Addo also expressed
satisfaction with the "Fish for Development" initiative signed by both
country and looks forward to its implementation because "it will have
a positive impact on the management of our marine resources for the creation of
wealth and employment, particularly in fishing communities, in accordance with the
realization of the SDG number. 14. "

"We are also grateful for the badistance
offered at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, and
Nautical College of Ghana, among others, "he added.

Encouraged that more Norwegian companies
were seeking to invest in Ghana, the President stated that his Government would
that the business climate in Ghana remains very favorable to the
investors

He stated that the presence of Norwegian Oil and
In Ghana, the gas giant Aker Energy testified to the confidence of the international community
the business and investment community had in the Ghanaian economy, adding that it
was pleased with Aker's commitment to work with us to design and
inspire the industrial development of our country and help us achieve the
structural transformation of our economy. "

"I want to badure the more than fifty Norwegian companies operating in our country
that my Government will continue to try to maintain a favorable investment
an atmosphere that would not only guarantee the security of their investments, but
also good returns on investments, "he said.

President Akufo-Addo talked about the
need to speed up the process of reforms at the United Nations, in particular that
of the United Nations Security Council, which seemed to be stuck.

"We are fully committed to Africa's common strategy.
Position on the reform of the UN, based on the consensus of Ezulwini, and look forward that
the issue of UN reform is quickly returning to the global agenda.

"We seek the support of Norway and
other countries in Europe for this long-awaited reform. It's well past the
time to correct the long-standing injustice that the current structure and
composition of the United Nations Security Council for African nations. "

Prime Minister Solberg on his part declared
Ghana has experienced impressive development over the years and has welcomed the
the Ghanaian government's vision of moving the country beyond the aid.

She said that "Ghana Beyond Aid
policy that would see the country in particular according to its own resources for
to meet its national aspirations for development "is a development philosophy that
really cherish, "insisting that it was imperative that Ghana look into its
growth potential and works towards it.

Prime Minister Solberg offered his country
badistance to help Ghana develop its natural resources, including fisheries
and the oil and gas sector.

She said that there were a lot of lessons to be learned
learned from Norway in the oil and gas sector in particular by ensuring that
the benefits of the sector have benefited the population.

She co-chairs with the President
Akufo-Addo at the UN Eminent group of
Defenders of the SDGs, Norwegian leader said his country would collaborate
with Ghana to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries sector.

She said on fishing, plastic pollution,
climate change were major problems that the two countries would turn to
to ensure that fishermen continue to make a living.

"We often say that natural resources can be
a curse for countries because it has the opportunity to make a difference
and inequalities in society. But we can work together in all aspects
including the legislative domain for the benefit of society as a whole.

She congratulated Ghana for incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals
its national development goals and hoped that other countries would emulate
move.

As part of his visit, the Prime Minister
would make a visit to Jamestown and interact with the fishermen and the Kofi
Annan International Peacekeeping Center in Teshie.

GNA