Strengthening Ghana, Turkey ties

Diplomatic relations between Ghana and Turkey were taken to a higher level following the decision of the Turkish government to re-establish a resident Embassy in Accra.

Subsequently, with the opening of an embassy in Accra on February 1, 2010, relations between the two countries have been witnessing important intensification in bilateral co-operation.

It was in line with this that the former President of Turkey, Mr Abdullah Gül, paid an official visit to Ghana in March 2011.

That historic visit marked a watershed in bilateral relations between the two countries.

On the occasion of that visit, a number of agreements were signed, which included agreements on Military Cooperation in the Fields of Health and Medical Sciences, Bilateral Air Services, the Mutual Abolition of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic Passports, as well as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing a Political Consultation Mechanism between the ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.

The visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish President, is expected to be yet another milestone in cementing the relations between the two countries.

Parliamentary relations between Turkey and Ghana have also kept developing. The Ghana-Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Association was formed on March 21, 2011 in Parliament.

The then President of Turkey also addressed the Parliament of Ghana during his official visit, thereby making Ghana’s Parliament the first in sub-Saharan Africa to be addressed by a Turkish President.

President Erdoğan also addressed Parliament yesterday.

Ghana participated in the First Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit with a delegation led by Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, then Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Commercial relations between Turkey and Ghana are following a dynamic path. Indeed, the bilateral trade volume, which amounted to $175 million in 2009, reached $290 million in 2010.

Last year, Ghana signed a bilateral agreement with Turkey that saw an increase in Turkey’s trade volume to about one billion dollars.

Another important event likely to enhance economic, commercial and people-to-people ties between Turkey and Ghana is the establishment of direct flights by Turkish Airlines between Istanbul and Accra via Lagos as of July 15, 2011.

The Daily Graphic believes that better days lie ahead in the business relations between the two countries and it is our hope that Ghanaian businessmen and women will take advantage of the buzzing relations to grow their businesses to international levels.

We also urge Turkish business people to take advantage of the investor-friendly atmosphere in the country to engage in more public-private partnerships.

Even long before the strengthening of relations between the two countries, Ghanaian footballers, including the former captain of the Black Stars, Stephen Appiah, plied their trade with Turkish football teams.

 Sam Johnson also played in Turkey and currently Michael Essien is making Ghana proud in that country.

Indeed, Ghana’s name is ingrained in the minds and hearts of many Turkish people because of the qualities of Stephen Appiah.

We wish Ghana-Turkey relations a fruitful and mutually beneficial future.