Seychelles, Ghana sign cooperation accords |21 May 2014

Seychelles and Ghana yesterday afternoon signed five different cooperation agreements during a short ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam signed on behalf of Seychelles while the visiting Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Serwaah Tetteh, signed for her country. Also present were other diplomats and officials from the two countries.

Apart from a general cooperation agreement, Seychelles and Ghana have signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between their respective ministries responsible for foreign affairs, a double taxation avoidance as well as a visa waiver agreement and an administrative cooperation agreement which will permit the two countries, during their respective low fishing seasons, to sell tuna to each other in view of re-export to the European Union.

Reminding the historical links between the two countries, whereby for example King Prempey of Ashanti was exiled to Seychelles by the British colonial power, Minister Adam said that the signing of the agreements symbolises a new era in diplomatic relations between the two countries, with the mutual desire to move to a next level.

He added that as countries which have democracy, human rights and regional integration at the top of their agenda, the visit of her Ghanaian counterpart has strengthened the already healthy cooperation between them and has created great scope for improvement, including the development of commercial and economic ties.

Mrs Tetteh replied that the cooperation tools put into place will create a platform for a wider cooperation in future.

She expressed her hope for more exchanges, which according to her will create business opportunities for business people on both sides and for the benefit of the two populations in general.

“The signing of the agreements represents the first step in a number of steps that we wish to make, resulting in concrete projects and programmes. [...] If we achieve to bring our people closer, we will have achieved our objectives,” she concluded.

During her stay in Seychelles, Mrs Tetteh has also held talks with President James Michel, the Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon and the Minister for Environment and Energy Professor Rolph Payet.

Ghana has also pledged to support Seychelles in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.