Harriet Thompson, Commissioner to Ghana, highlighting important areas for further Ghana-United Kingdom cooperation and thanking her for her four-year term.
The High Commissioner’s “positive engagements” during her stay in the nation were praised by Mr. Mahama.
“So far so good” is how he described the “long-standing historical relationship” between Ghana and the UK.
But going forward, the president emphasized the necessity of stronger economic ties and trade for both parties.
He also mentioned the dynamic shifts in the world, such as the decline of traditional development aid and the need for developing nations like Ghana to reposition themselves strategically.
President Mahama also praised the UK’s substantial assistance in counterterrorism initiatives, praising collaboration in intelligence collection and training in particular.
“We appreciate the partnership we have shared in the fight against terrorism,” President Mahama stated. We will continue to rely on the UK for help and cooperation in intelligence gathering and training to prepare ourselves in the event of any attack.”
As the conversation turned to regional issues, Mr. Mahama gave the High Commissioner an update on his recent proactive meetings with Sahelian leaders from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.
To restore confidence and strengthen ties with these neighbors, he promised to make more diplomatic efforts.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) issues will be at the top of the agenda at the next ECOWAS summit on Sunday, the first since he took office, he said.
“I am going to have the opportunity to report to the rest of the ECOWAS leaders on trips I made to the three countries and share some of my perspectives about their grievances and how we can redefine relationships,” he told the outgoing envoy.
President Mahama offered an upbeat assessment of the home economy, citing improvements like a rising Cedi, falling inflation, and a resurgence of investor confidence.
“I am happy to report that it’s going well,” he said, detailing the first quarter economic performance report. “The first quarter report on economic performance indicates a GDP growth of 5.3 percent; inflation has reduced from 23 percent to 18 percent since January, and we hope to bring it down to 13 percent by the end of the year, so that should create some relief for Ghanaians in terms of the cost of living, and we will continue to maintain fiscal discipline.”
High Commissioner Harriet Thompson, who has been in Ghana for more than four years, said she was appreciative of the kind assistance and collaboration she received while she was there.
She also praised the effective execution of several British-sponsored initiatives during her tenure.
Source: newsthemegh.com