Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, presents Prime Minister Mia Mottley with a plaque highlighting the Year of Return in Ghana, to mark 400 years of the first enslaved Africans arriving in Virginia, USA. (B.Hinds/BGIS)

President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, has described his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and her ministerial team as “very productive” and “very fruitful”.

Mr.  Akufo-Addo, who is on a two-day visit to Barbados, made the comments today at a press conference at Ilaro Court.

He told local and Ghanaian journalists: “Fortunately, the discussions that took place today have been very productive and very fruitful.  We have found it possible that in education, in health, in economic, in cultural exchanges, and the broad range of activities involving the cooperation between your university here and the universities in Ghana, [these areas] have given us many possible avenues for progress and joint development.”

The President said it was very important that the momentum of this visit was maintained.  

“And it can only be maintained if the various things we agreed, we’re going to do, for example the supply of nurses.  That is what, therefore, will make meaningful today’s meeting and exchange,” he stressed.

Mr. Akufo-Addo said he was very committed to moving from the discourse phase to action, so there would be a new buzz about Bajan/Ghanaians relations.  

He stressed the importance of solidifying relations, not only between Barbados and Ghana, but certainly the African Union and CARICOM.

He stated that there was a lot of activity happening in Ghana which involved the people of the Caribbean.  

He pointed out that 2019 was being observed as the Year of Return in Ghana, to mark 400 years of the first enslaved Africans arriving in Virginia, USA.  He said it was important that this act was commemorated.

“First of all, to be able to say that we are never going to put ourselves in that position in Africa again, for armed European soldiers to walk into this vast continent and organize the abduction of 25 million of us and be brought here in chains to work the plantations and other activities.

“And on their behalf, we have taken a very firm decision that we’re never going to permit ourselves to be in that situation again, and we think that your joining us to commemorate this Year of Return in Ghana, would be a very powerful statement – that on both sides of the Atlantic, the people of African descent have made this commitment,” he said.

Mr. Akufo-Addo, who is on his second visit to Barbados, leaves the island tomorrow.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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