Ghana, Italy renew ties of co-operation
Ghana and Italy have renewed their commitments to deepening the ties of co-operation and the bonds of friendship that exist between the two countries, as well as to continue to explore areas of mutual interests for the benefit of their respective populations.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, renewed the ties during bilateral talks at Quirinal Palace, in Rome, Italy, as part of the President’s 4-day official visit to that country.
Welcoming President Akufo-Addo President Mattarella lauded Ghana’s continued adherence to the tenets of democracy, good governance, the rule of law and to the principles of democratic accountability, all of which, he said, have made Ghana a beacon of democracy and stability not only in West Africa, but also on the continent of Africa.
President Akufo-Addo, on his part, noted that Ghana and Italy have had strong relations spanning several decades, which have resulted in many Italian companies being successful in their operations in Ghana, citing the Italian engineering firm, Impregilo, which constructed the Akosombo Dam, as an example.
Reiterating Ghana’s commitment to working with Italy, the President thanked the Italian President for the support given to Ghana by Italy, a member of the Creditor Committee for Ghana under the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments, in the restructuring of Ghana’s finances, which helped her secure a $3 billion Extended Credit Facility from the International Monetary Fund.
President Akufo-Addo said collaboration with Italy in the development of the Ghana’s pharmaceutical and agro-based industries is high on the agenda of his visit, and indicated that it will be one of the matters he will bring up in his discussions with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni scheduled for today
Both leaders agreed that the quest for the development of their respective economies will not be possible in conditions of chaos and armed conflict.
To this end, President Mattarella applauded the role being played by Ghana in helping to confront the jihadist and terrorist threat in the Sahel.
Describing the Accra Initiative as “commendable”, the Italian President pledged the support of his country for its success, because, in his own words, “the stability of the Sahel is important”.
In addition to this, President Mattarella also pledged the support of Italy in helping to confront the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
On the issue of redesigning the global financial and economic architecture, President Akufo-Addo indicated that this was imperative so as to ensure that systems of injustice and inequity in the global financial sector are corrected, a statement which was corroborated by the Italian President, who noted that the current set-up of the global financial architecture must be more responsive to the needs of the world.
President Mattarella and President Akufo-Addo were unanimous in their call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council, which, in the words of the Ghanaian leader, is long overdue.
