President David Granger yesterday accepted Letters of Credence from Ghana’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Professor Abena Pokua Adompim Busia and Ambassador of Indonesia to Guyana, Julang Pujianto, and pledged government’s commitment to working closely with both countries to improve relations.
During the accreditation ceremony for Professor Busia, Granger announced that Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will visit Guyana from June 11-12.
“We are confident that this visit will result in practical measures aimed at enhancing relations and cooperation between our two states, particularly in the fields of agriculture, culture, energy, environment, investment, petroleum production, private sector cooperation, tourism and transportation,” the president said. Granger said that he met the Ghanaian president at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference last year and again earlier this year in Cuba. An invitation was extended to him to visit Guyana and it was accepted.
He reminded that the two countries are joined by ties of blood, history and common interests and noted that Guyana joined in heralding Ghana’s independence in 1957. Some cultural organisations observe, annually, March 6 as Ghana Day, he added.
Granger stated that Guyana and Ghana have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties on May 14, 1979, forty years ago. “Our relations are founded on … non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for international law and treaties and the maintenance of international peace and security,” he stated.
According to Granger, the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two states, which is being celebrated this year, is a propitious time for deepening and strengthening cooperation. It was in this regard, that he informed that Guyana extends a warm welcome to the visiting high-level delegation and private sector delegation from Ghana. He expressed anticipation that these interactions will lay a solid foundation for cooperation between the two states.
Further, he said that climate change represents a threat to both countries’ economy and environment and as such, Guyana looks forward to sharing experiences in building climate-resilient economic sectors.
Busia in her remarks, stated that the two countries share a common heritage through political cooperation and educational and cultural linkages and a commitment to shared values and principles.
“I have made it a priority, based on my nearly four decades as a scholar of the African Diaspora, to support the creation of joint educational and cultural heritage programmes between Ghana and the countries to which I am accredited, which draw out these commonalities and thereby strengthen the ties that bind us on the basis of a true knowledge and shared understanding of one another’s history and culture,” she said. She expressed hope that during her tenure, she will be able to translate the existing bilateral ties into vibrant economic cooperation with the private sector— which is regarded as the engine of growth— for the mutual benefit of the two countries. “To that end, I intend to focus on the comparative advantage of our two countries; specifically areas of trade and investments, agriculture and agro-processing, mining, and tourism. To this list I must here single out the aspirations we have for cooperation and support as comparative new comers to the global energy market. We have much to learn from each other and I hope I can count on the kind support of all the relevant stakeholders to create the enabling environment for promotion of the sector,” she said.
She urged that there be an exchange of Trade Missions to explore the many other business ventures that exist, and extended a hand of cooperation for the promotion of economic development and the alleviation of poverty.
Busia used the occasion to encourage Guyanese poets, dramatists, artists and others in Ghana’s celebration of the ‘YEAR OF RETURN’ and PANAFEST 2019, to be held in July.
Indonesia
In a separate ceremony moments earlier, Granger accredited Pujianto.
In brief remarks, the President reminded that Guyana and Indonesia, this year, celebrate the 20th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations which started on August 27, 1999. The cordial ties enjoyed, he said, are founded on mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for international law and treaties and the maintenance of international peace and security.
He said that Guyana recalls Indonesia’s successful hosting of the historic Asian-African Conference in the City of Bandung in April 1955 and its foundational role in the establishment of the Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non- Aligned Movement in Belgrade in 1961.
The two Republics, though separated by a distance of 19,000 km, Granger said, are bound through friendship and cooperation, in the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations.
As such, he said that Guyana was pleased to support Indonesia’s candidature as a non-permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, noting that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi’s visit to Guyana last year has helped to “consolidate our fraternal ties.”
He noted that both countries are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and as such, Guyana is looking forward to working closely with Indonesia at the bilateral and multilateral levels to ensure international peace and security and to encourage increased global efforts to reduce the adverse effects of climate change.
Pujianto stressed that his country is committed to fully participating in and contributing to the maintenance of a world order based on freedom, lasting peace and social justice.
“I wish to take this opportunity to assure your Excellency that I will do my utmost to further promote and strengthen the cordial relations already existing…”, he pledged, before adding that as Ambassador, he has a duty to promote bilateral relations with the aim of achieving the prosperity and well-being for the people of both nations.
