Ghana, UK ventures into strategic partnership, tie-up to open new areas of development

The government of Ghana has ventured into an exclusive strategic partnership tie-up with the United Kingdom to ensure deepening and enhancing the existing relationship followed by opening up of new areas for cooperation.

The signing of agreement has taken place between Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and the United Kingdom Secretary, Jeremy Hunt in the country's capital, Accra. The signing ceremony was witnessed by British High Commissioner in Accra, Ian Walker and Ghana's Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia.

Ghana and UK have agreed to mainly focus their collective efforts in three main areas, which includes building economic development and mutual prosperity by leveraging on the work of the UK-Ghana Business Council, stability and regional security as well as improving health, education and inclusion.

They further agreed to deepen their economic relationship through prioritisation of efforts to promote sustainable industrialisation, economic diversification, job creation and greater trade and investment. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway opined that UK's investment in trade in Ghana had hit around £3.4 billion and believe that the agreement would help augment the investments and help Ghana in achieving its industrialisation objective.

"We agreed to work together to enhance macroeconomic management and to increase Ghana's domestic revenues through tax reform and well-managed oil and gas revenues," Ayorkor Botchway said.

Both Ghana and the UK have agreed to share and develop technical expertise and foster new partnerships between the institutions to support high quality, domestically-financed services in health, education and social protection. "We will continue to promote gender equality and economic inclusion and will increase our focus on support and inclusion in mental health services and for people with disabilities. We have always been stronger together: these clear, positive priorities will deepen our partnership for the future," she added.

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