UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy lauds Ghana

The United Kingdom Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Ghana, Mr Adam Afriyie, has lauded Ghana’s credentials as a stable shining democracy in Africa.

“Ghana is really the shining star. She has stable politics, stable democracy, building its institutions as well as building trust with the international communities,” Mr Afriyie remarked at a cocktail reception organised by the British High Commissioner for a visiting Scottish Trade Mission Delegation in Accra.

Mr Afriyie said Ghana had built an overwhelming trust within the international community and within the oil and gas sector in particular.

He explained that Ghana had built an overwhelming trust with the international community and as such investors were far more willing to invest in the country.

The aim of the visit was to enable the delegation gain a thorough understanding of local market conditions while investigating local investment opportunities.

The visit was to afford Scottish companies opportunities to partner with local Ghanaian oil and gas companies interested in bringing new technologies and skills to Ghana.

The trade mission of 22 Scottish companies, included Aberdeen Drilling School, Air Control Entech, Apollo Offshore Engineering, and Aquatic Engineering and Construction Corex UK.

Mr Afriyie said the visit, which was the third Scottish Trade Mission Delegation to Ghana, was the largest ever Scottish trade delegation to Africa.

He said the visit enabled Scottish experts the opportunity to connect with their Ghanaian counterparts in the oil and gas industry.

He said the ruling of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in favour of Ghana, means that the country had clearly established its right to more oil fields.

He said it also means that there would be more drilling rights being authorised, a lot more licenses allowed; adding that, this would lead to a huge influx of technology, skills, equipment and training services.

He said the trade relation between the UK and Ghana was for the mutual benefits of both nations.

Mr Ian Walker, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, said they were committed to improving all aspects of the Ghana-UK relationship.

The Leader of the Scottish trade mission to Ghana, Mr Cameron Douglas, Scottish International Trade Advisor for Sub-Saharan Africa at Scottish Development International Scotland (SDI), UK, said whilst the delegation was in Ghana, they had fruitful meetings.

Mr Andrew Monaghan, the Africa Regional Manager, SDI, said they were in Ghana to bring Scottish investors into the country.

The delegation, which was on a three-day visit to Ghana, had since left for Lagos, Nigeria on a similar trade mission.