During an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ghana's Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, signed a cooperation agreement with his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, marking a new step in strengthening relations between Accra and Abu Dhabi.
This partnership includes the enhancement of high-level discussions between the two parties.
"An important outcome was the signing of an agreement to initiate the first high-level political consultations, in the strategic interest of both countries," stated the Ghanaian minister.
Beyond this diplomatic progress, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that he had secured commitments for Emirati investments in several priority sectors in Ghana, including renewable energy, artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, aviation, and defense.
These investment promises, expected in the coming weeks, align with the vision of Ghanaian President John Mahama, who stated that "Ghana is once again open for business."
Additionally, the minister expressed the president's intention to deepen cooperation with the UAE in socially impactful areas, such as the export of skilled labor. Emirati technical support is also expected for the revival of a Ghanaian national airline.
The relations between the two countries are part of a broader cooperation dynamic, supported by several agreements in various fields. Among these are a memorandum of understanding on visa exemption between the two nations, an agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments between the two oil-producing countries, and an agreement aimed at avoiding double taxation and preventing tax fraud in income tax matters. Two other agreements focus on human resource development and customs cooperation, particularly in terms of mutual assistance.
According to data from the International Trade Center (ITC), trade between the two countries reached $2.3 billion in 2023, reports the Ecofin agency.
