Italy to continue collaboration with Ghana on security — Ambassador
The Italian Ambassador, Laura Ranalli, has reaffirmed her country’s firm stance to continue to collaborate with Ghana in the area of security with a shared commitment to stabilising the region (Gulf of Guinea).
Italy would also support that collaboration through bilateral, multilateral and European partnerships with Ghana in pursuance of that objective, she added.
The envoy was proposing a toast at a reception at her official residence in Accra on Friday, May 30, to mark Italy’s National Day.
The function was attended by a large number of members of the Italian community, ministers of state, traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps.
Ms Ranalli said Italy and Ghana shared profound and multifaceted ties, and to strengthen those ties, the Italian Government recently included Ghana in the so-called “Mattei Plan”, a strategic and tangible framework designed to reinforce Italy’s collaboration with African nations on a peer-to-peer basis.
In that framework, Italy’s projects in Ghana centred on agribusiness, ‘Strengthening agri-food ecosystems partnership with the private sector in Ghana’, in the Volta Region, and an extensive health initiative aimed at strengthening hospital facilities and access to quality health services.
“The framework also includes the Digital Flagship Initiative, which aims at designing bankable, multi-year initiative focused on digital connectivity and public infrastructure, and several initiatives on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with Ghanaian institutions, universities and non-governmental organisations,” the Italian Ambassador said.
Still on security, she announced that the Italian Navy ship, Bettica, undertaking a patrol mission in the Gulf of Guinea, would visit the Tema Port in the middle of June, this year.
Giving an overview of the status of the bilateral relations between Italy and Ghana, Ms Ranalli said a very good level of trade exchanges between the two countries reached €800million in 2023, and €700 million in 2024.
She recalled how Italy became a steadfast supporter of Ghana’s independence, saying Italy had over the decades played an integral role in Ghana’s modernisation journey.
“Notable examples include the construction of the Akosombo Dam and the establishment of the Tema Oil Refinery by Italian companies.
“The tradition of cooperation in energy, infrastructure and construction continues till date, with Italian firms playing a leading role in these sectors, and also recently in agriculture,” the Ambassador said.
Further, she said, numerous Italian families had settled in Ghana over the past century, contributing significantly to the country’s economic development.
Similarly, Italy benefited immensely from the presence of a vibrant, active and well-integrated Ghanaian community, whose cultural and entrepreneurial influence enriched the Italian society, Ms Ranalli acknowledged.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, who represented the Government of Ghana at the reception, paid glowing tribute to the Ambassador, saying since her arrival in Ghana in December 2024, her dedication to strengthening Ghana-Italy relations had been evident.
“We have already witnessed significant engagements in our relationship; your commitment is making a difference, as we are eager to collaborate further to deepen warm and long-standing ties,” she said.
The minister said Italy’s active participation in multilateral initiatives and its support for European Union programmes in Ghana bore ample testimony to its unwavering belief in international cooperation.
Among the dignitaries present was the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV.
