Ghana, Guinea to collaborate more in energy and mining

Ghana and Guinea have agreed to rejuvenate interaction between them for the mutual benefit of their respective peoples.

This was reached during a three-day state visit of Guinea President Professor Alpha Condé to Ghana.

He brought his visit to an end on Friday, March 7.

The two countries, during bilateral talks, agreed to collaborate extensively in the areas of energy and mining.

These were contained in a joint communiqué issued after the end of President Condé’s state visit, which saw him serve as the Special Guest at Ghana’s 57th Independence Anniversary celebration.

Below is the communiqué issued on Friday:

At the invitation of H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Professor Alpha Condé, President of the Republic of Guinea, paid aofficial visit to Ghana from the 5th to 7th March, 2014 as Special Guest of Honour at Ghana’s 57th Independence Anniversary Celebration.

H.E. Professor Alpha Condé was accompanied by a high-level delegation, which included Madam Aminata Toure, daughter of the late President Ahmed Sekou Toure, Guinea’s first President.

On his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, H.E. Professor Alpha Condé was welcomed by Hon. Hanna Serwaah Tetteh, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana.

The visit provided the two Presidents and their accompanying delegations a uniue opportunity to discuss issues of critical importance in furtherance of cooperation at the bilateral, regional and international levels.

At bilateral talks, the two Heads of State acknowledged the challenges confronting the effective realisation of the aspirations of the African Union and agreed to harness their collective efforts and resources towards accelerating the process of continental integration. They renewed their commitment to the ideals and tenets of regional integration as the pillar of Africa’s eventual unity for the sustainable development and preservation of the peace and security of the continent.

The two Presidents acknowledged the excellent, bilateral relations existing between the two countries and expressed their commitment to further deepen the existing good relations for the mutual benefit of the peoples of Ghana and Guinea.

On economic relations, the Heads of State noted with regret the rather low level of interaction between their two countries and resolved to explore new potential areas of economic cooperation. In that regard, they agreed to collaborate extensively in the areas of energy and mining. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in human resource capacity development and the design of appropriate regulatory frameworks to guide operations in each sector. They were gratified to observe that after twenty-five (25) years of inactivity, the Ghana-Guinea Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC), which had served as the main framework for economic cooperation between the two countries, was finally reconvened in May 2013.

At the end of their discussions, they expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations between Ghana and Guinea, founded on shared values of mutual respect, commitment to democracy, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

During his stay in the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Professor Alpha Condé, among other activities, witnessed the Independence Anniversary Parade at the Black Star Square and laid wreaths at the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum and the graveside of former President John Evans Atta Mills at the Asomdwee Park.

The two Presidents also witnessed a seminar on Responsible Mineral Development Initiative (RMDI) held at the Accra International Conference Centre,visited a pineapple farm and packaging facility, and had a guided tour of the Akosombo Dam and its generating facilities.

At the end of his visit to Ghana, President Alpha Condé expressed appreciation for the warm and brotherly reception and hospitality accorded him and his delegation and extended an invitation to President John Dramani Mahama to pay a reciprocal visit to Ghana at his convenience.