By Hannah Dadzie
Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a bold step toward strengthening diplomatic and economic ties following a historic two-day official visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The visit, at the invitation of the UAE government, yielded substantial commitments for investment and job creation in Ghana.
Minister Ablakwa was warmly received by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, and held a series of productive meetings with key UAE officials, including Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, and Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs.
A key outcome of the visit was the signing of an agreement to initiate the first-ever high-level political consultations between Ghana and the UAE, solidifying a strategic partnership aimed at mutual benefit.
“This visit has been exceptionally successful and historic. We have secured significant commitments from UAE companies who will be investing in critical sectors of Ghana’s economy, including renewable energy, AI, education, health, aviation, and defense.” Mr Ablakwa stated
These investments align with President Mahama’s vision of positioning Ghana as a prime destination for business and investment. Discussions centered on two priority areas of President Mahama’s government: labor export for Ghanaian youth and technical support for a new national airline.
The Foreign Affairs Minister announced that massive job openings in the UAE will soon be announced for Ghanaian youth, upon the finalization of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations.
The UAE’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s new national airline project signifies a major boost to the nation’s aviation sector.
“We have obtained firm commitments for technical support, which will be instrumental in establishing a robust and efficient national airline,” He added.
The Minister expressed his gratitude to the diplomats at the Foreign Ministry and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament for their collective efforts in achieving these milestones.
“This successful engagement underscores the strong and growing bond between Ghana and the UAE.We are confident that these developments will lead to significant economic growth and create numerous opportunities for the Ghanaian people.” The Minister indicated
The visit signals a promising future for Ghana-UAE relations, with both nations committed to deepening their strategic partnership for mutual prosperity.
