The dawn of a new Iran: Prez Mahama makes historic visit
That a number of African leaders have lined up visits to the Islamic Republic of Iran after the lifting of economic sanctions testifies to the dawn of a new Iran.
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President John Dramani Mahama was the first Africa leader to visit the Islamic Republic, and South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is set to be the second to visit Tehran next week to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
It came out clearly from President Mahama’s visit that Iran is eyeing Africa for investment in the post-sanctions era.
The Gulf giant is energised by the lifting of economic sanctions and looks set to take a serious look at Africa.
Over the years, Iran’s policy towards Africa has focused mainly on the political level but the Islamic state wants to shift to economic ties based on mutual benefits.
The visit of President Mahama brought to the fore how authorities of the oil-rich country want to see their country extend its reach to the continent.
When President Mahama stepped on the tarmac at the Imam Khomenei International Airport in Tehran in the evening of Saturday, February 13, 2015, his mission was not only to push for expanded cooperation between Ghana and Iran, but to a larger extent, to drive the Africa agenda.
And at the end of the three-day visit, Iran gave firm assurance to enhance its relations with Ghana and also expand its reach to other African countries, particularly in West Africa.
The visit, which was also the first by a Ghanaian President, drew many positives.
Africa’s growing population and abundant natural resources provide a basis for Iran to channel some of its resources for investment in productive areas.
Investment
President Hassan Rouhani stated at a joint press conference he and President Mahama held after their bilateral talks that Ghana and Africa cover a huge part of Iran’s plans for the future.
The signing of two new agreements in agriculture and international co-operation were in line with the objectives of the Ghana-Iran Permanent Commission, which was set up in 2014.
In 2013, then Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, set the stage to push Iran-Africa relations to another level when he embarked on his famous African trip to drive trade and economic ties.
President Rouhani is continuing the process with all seriousness. Now, Iran wants to ensure its presence is felt strongly in oil and gas projects, as well as agriculture, manufacturing, power, mining and other activities in Africa, and Ghana is key on their radar.
He expressed delight at the visit of President Mahama and said his country would work with Ghana to enhance the economic development of the West African nation.
Currently, there are seven registered Iranian companies in Ghana but the signs are clear that in the coming years, more will come on board.
Iranian investors were highly encouraged by the strides Ghana is making in its development and they pledged to channel resources to the country.
A delegation from the business community of Iran will visit Ghana soon to follow up on the discussions held in Tehran.
Strengths
Iran is a powerful country in its own right. It has enormous natural resources. Its hydrocarbon resources are the largest in the world.
Years of social, economic, diplomatic, and military advancements have made the Islamic Republic a regional power. The distribution of oil wealth has helped to expand the middle class.
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The government used oil revenues to undertake massive infrastructure in roads, manufacturing, railways, power plants, airports, education water, among others.
Even in the period of what the West saw as crippling economic sanctions to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the Islamic state shrugged off some of the challenges to drive its own development agenda.
Today, the country of about 80 million people produces about 98 per cent of its medicine needs and is also elf-sufficient in many areas. About 90 per cent of the cars used in the country are locally made.
The capital, Tehran, is a beautiful city by all standards with astonishing infrastructure that compares to any other renowned city in the world.
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Iran does not play with its security. Tehran is a military power in the Gulf, a development that has led to the United States keeping a close eye on the country to check its military expansion.
The country has strict Islamic principles and laws, one of which bars males from shaking hands with females.
In spite of the strict Islamic laws, the people are very friendly.
Post-sanctions
The deal that lifted the sanctions followed years of dispute between the West and Iran over the country’s nuclear programme.
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Although Iran sold oil – one of its most valuable resources – to a number of countries, it was unable to lay hands on the revenues as they were frozen in foreign banks.
Several billions of dollars frozen in foreign accounts are set to be released following the lifting of the sanctions.
Days after the sanctions were lifted, the United States Treasury released over $100 billion accrued from the sale of Iranian oil.
Already the government has finalised a deal to buy 114 aircraft from French company, Airbus, to augment the fleet of the national airline. In the next few years it plans to buy 500 of the airplanes.
There is not a single direct direct flight between Iran and Africa and probably Iran’s move to bolster the aviation industry will change the situation.
Political system
Formed in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran is a revolutionary theocratic state.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution that overthrew the last Shah (monarch), Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, is seen as a ‘father’ of the nation.
Iran’s political system has the Supreme Leader as the most powerful official. Its constitution allows him to directly or indirectly exert control over the Executive and Legislature branches of the government, as well as the military. His major priorities include jealously guarding his powers, and relentlessly championing the Islamic theocracy.
Born in 1939, the current Khamenei, Ayatollah Ali, became the Supreme Leader in 1989, succeeding the man who led the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei.
Impressive reception
The impressive reception given President Mahama from the day he arrived, through talks with President Rouhani and the Supreme Leader, Ayatolla Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to other activities he undertook, was a testimony of how Iran valued the visit.
President Rouhani praised President Mahama for the great work he is doing both at home and on the international scene.
President Mahama wanted to see Iran’s presence in Ghana’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), downstream petrochemical sector, and in agriculture to accelerate national development.
Iran is playing a laudable role in Ghana’s education and health delivery. It has established the Iranian Clinic in Accra and the Islamic University. It also offers scholarship to young Ghanaians to study medicine and the sciences in Iran.