Celebration of Africa Day and 50 years of Africa - Israel relations in Jerusalem

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel in conjunction with the Africa Diplomatic community in Israel on 29th May, 2007, celebrated the 2007 Africa Day and 50 years of Africa-Israel relations with the spotlight on Ghana. Ghana was the first Black African country to establish formal diplomatic relations with Israel in 1957. The two countries maintained resident Ambassadors in each other’s country for close to 15 years (1958-1993) until Ghana broke diplomatic relations with Israel in compliance with an OAU (AU) resolution enjoining all members to do so. Ghana and Israel nonetheless continued to enjoy very warm and cordial relation.

In an impressive ceremony at the auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were presentations by the Development Center of the OECD on “Africa Economic Perspective 2007: Opportunities for future Cooperation” and Panel discussions on “Africa-Israel relations - 50 years and looking forward”. Special choreographic performance to herald the occasion was performed by Palm Tree Dance Theatre from Ghana under the direction of an Israeli choreographer, Ms. Dkala Harel.

The guest of Honour for the occasion was Hon. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ghana’s Minister for Culture and Chieftaincy and aided by Hon. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi – Volta Regional Minister and H. E. Nana Owusu-Nsiah – Ambassador of Ghana to the State of Israel.

In her remarks at the Foreign Ministry reception marking the Africa Day and 50 years of Africa-Israel relations, Mrs. Tzipi Livni, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel recounted the glorious days of fruitful relations between Africa and Israel in the 1950s and 1960s initiated by a trip to Africa by the former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister of Israel – the late Mrs. Golda Meir. She mentioned that relations which were strongly established with Ghana’s First President, the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was severed, owing to the Yom Kippur war in 1973. However, she reiterated that diplomatic ties with Africa have been improving steadily since 1980s, after the renewal of relations. She wished Israel could regain her observer status in the African Union.

Hon. Sampson Kwaku Boafo read the statement issued on the Africa Day by H. E. President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chairman of AU which was based on this year’s theme “Strengthening Africa’s place in the world through Strategic, Balanced and Responsible Partnership”. He called on Israel to be proactive in forging closer relations with Africa to ensure mutual understanding, development, progress, peace and security. He noted that the history and heritage of the Holy Land is of great significance to people of Africa in general and Ghana in particular.