"Ghana and Norway strengthen their ties of cooperation" – President Akufo-Addo

Economic News from Sunday, June 2, 2019

Source: gbcghanaonline.com

2019-06-02

Ghana's President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said that the two-day visit to Ghana by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, Erna Solberg, was aimed at strengthening existing ties of friendship and cooperation. between Ghana and Norway.

Prime Minister Solberg being the first Norwegian Prime Minister to visit Ghana, President Akufo-Addo expressed his gratitude to the people of Ghana for the Norwegian Government and the people of Norway for the tremendous support they have offered to Ghana in through various interventions.

According to President Akufo-Addo, Norway's "oil-for-development program", which has been successfully operating for more than 10 years, has strengthened Ghana's capacity to manage its oil resources.

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

President Akufo-Addo said this on Friday, May 31, 2019, when the Norwegian Prime Minister paid a courtesy call on his Ghanaian counterpart at Jubilee House as part of his two-day official visit to Ghana.

Particularly pleased with Norway's new partner country initiative, which aims to ensure that partner countries become independent of aid over the long term, the President said "it is perfectly in line with my Government's vision of 'a "Ghana beyond help".

He was also encouraged by the fact that more and more Norwegian companies are looking to invest in Ghana, symbolized by the presence of oil and gas giant Aker Energy.

"I want to badure the more than fifty (50) Norwegian companies operating in our country that my Government will continue to try to maintain a climate conducive to investment that not only ensures the security of their investments, but also a good return on investment. . ," he said.

The President said that he was "particularly pleased with Aker's commitment to working with us to design and inspire the industrial development of our country and to help us achieve the structural transformation of our economy. . "

President Akufo-Addo told Prime Minister Solberg that Ghana and Norway shared the same positions on many of the major issues of the day, including the mutual commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations, and the United Nations. Paris climate agreement, strengthening the multilateral system of policy monitoring. international cooperation and the need for peaceful means to resolve disputes.

"I wish to badure you that the Republic of Ghana will continue to work with the Kingdom of Norway, bilaterally and multilaterally, to find solutions to problems such as the eradication of widespread poverty, the elimination of irregular migration, insecurity and human rights. violations, terrorism and violent extremism, trafficking in human beings and drugs, piracy, as well as climate change and its consequences on the environment and livelihoods ", was -he adds.

The President expressed his satisfaction with the "Fish for Development" initiative signed by the two countries and is pleased with its implementation as it will have a positive impact on the management of our marine resources for the creation wealth and jobs, especially in the fisheries sector. communities, in line with the achievement of SDG 14.

Before concluding, President Akufo-Addo raised the issue of the UN reform process, especially the UN Security Council, which seems to be stalled.

"We are fully committed to Africa's common position on UN reform, based on the consensus of Ezulwini, and we look forward to seeing the issue of reform of the UN. 39; UN to return quickly to the agenda, "he said.

The President continued: "We are seeking the support of Norway and other countries in Europe for this long-awaited reform. It is high time to address the long-standing injustice of the structure and composition of the United Nations Security Council for African nations. "

In Ghana, Prime Minister Erna Solberg is expected to visit Jamestown, meet fishermen and visit the Kofi Annan International Training and Peacekeeping Center.