US assures Ghana of support to facilitate trade

The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Stephanie S. Sullivan, has assured Ghana of her country's commitment to support initiatives that will facilitate trade between the two countries.

She said U.S investors would be encouraged to invest in key sectors of the Ghanaian economy to promote sustainable development.

Ms Sullivan gave the assurance when she paid a courtesy call on members of the Council of State in Accra last Tuesday.

The Chairman of the council, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, presided over the meeting.

Other members of the council present at the meeting included a former Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood; a former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Nana Owusu Nsiah; a legal practitioner, Mr Sam Okudzeto, and a former Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dr Margaret Ivy Amoakohene.

The council explained how it operated and the role they played in national development.

The meeting was held behind closed doors, but the Daily Graphic gathered that discussions centred on key issues such as trade facilitation, good governance and security.

Observations

Ms Sullivan observed that the choice of Ghana to host the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat was a big mileage for the country to leverage the opportunities it offered to boost economic activities in the country.

She said trade liberalisation would not only help attract investors but also boost investor confidence in the continent.

The ambassador commended Ghana for drawing on the knowledge and expertise of seasoned statesmen to help drive the country's democratic governance.

She observed that the constitutional arrangement where highly skilled persons with legal, security and other backgrounds were constituted into a Council of State to advise the government on key national issues was worth emulating.

Significance

Nana Siriboe said the discussions by the two parties were mutually beneficial.

Although he did not disclose details of the discussions to the Daily Graphic, he said they had a fruitful engagement that highlighted issues of national interest.

“The visit by the US Ambassador was productive. We cannot discuss some of the issues we deliberated on, but we put before her some development concerns which she promised to look into,” he added.