Prez Mahama interacts with Iranian Foreign Minister
President John Dramani Mahama has urged Iranian businesses to take advantage of Ghana’s growing economy and stability to invest in the country.
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The lifting of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran in January this year has led to Iranian businesses exploring opportunities outside, and Africa has been a major focus.
Welcoming the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr Mohamad J. Zarif, and a delegation of 70 top business leaders from Iran to the Flagstaff House yesterday, President Mahama said: “Ghana’s economy is growing, it is stable and it is part of the larger West African market.”
He said Ghana was strategically positioning itself to take advantage of the West African market of 350 million people.
Follow-up
The visit by the Iranian minister and business people is to offer them the opportunity to follow up on agreements reached between Ghana and Iran during President Mahama’s visit to Iran earlier this year.
The President became the first sitting Ghanaian President to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran and the first African leader to visit that country following the lifting of the sanctions.
Among the highlights to the President’s state visit was the signing of cooperation agreements in areas including petrochemical, oil and gas and agriculture.
President Mahama said the Ghanaian authorities were also making follow-ups to operationalise the agreements reached in Iran, adding: “I am happy that you have followed up with such a large delegation.”
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He said experiences were gained during his visit to Iran and expressed the hope that the two countries would continue to work together for their mutual benefit.
He welcomed Iran’s decision to give additional scholarships to Ghanaian students to study in that country and said females would be given priority to study medicine and the sciences.
Security
On global security, the President stressed the need for collaboration among nations to fight terrorism.
“Terrorism is becoming a major issue in the world and I think we must build strong solidarity to be able to counter it,” he said.
In that regard, he indicated Ghana’s resolve to continue to work with Iran to combat the canker.
Taking a look at the situation in Syria and Iraq, President Mahama stated that it was only dialogue that could resolve the problem.
“I don’t believe that there can be a military solution to the Syrian question and so it is important the UN talks to encourage dialogue,” he said, while urging Iran to continue to play its part in seeking a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.
We value Ghana
The Iranian Foreign Minister, for his part, told the President that his country valued the relationship with Ghana, adding that that informed the large delegation to Ghana.
He pledged his government’s readiness to do everything to ensure that the relationship between the two countries grew.
He also expressed his country’s readiness to work with Ghana to combat terrorism.
Mr Zarif praised Ghana for its principled positions in international affairs.
The minister and his delegation were led to the Flagstaff House by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Madam Hanna Tetteh.
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