President John Dramani Mahama engaged in bilateral talks with Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Carlos Manuel Vila Nova, the President of São Tomé, to strengthen the ties between Ghana and both nations.
During his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Rayner at the Presidency in Accra on Friday, President Mahama reaffirmed that Ghana’s foreign policy with the UK, its former colonial power, would remain unchanged. He emphasized that the goal was to elevate the relationship to even greater heights, highlighting the significance of the visit as a symbol of the longstanding warm relations between the two countries.President Mahama noted that there were many areas of bilateral cooperation that would be reviewed and aligned with the vision of Ghana’s new government.
Key among the priorities was addressing the issue of youth unemployment, a major concern for the country’s young population. He stressed that efforts would be made to attract more foreign direct investment, especially as Ghana had been excluded from the international credit market. This would help generate jobs and opportunities for the youth.
He also commended UK firms for their continued investment in Ghana and encouraged them to explore further opportunities within the country. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Rayner congratulated President Mahama on his electoral victory and reaffirmed the UK’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ghana’s development. She highlighted the shared goal of both nations to foster economic growth and create sustainable jobs to improve the living standards of their people.
On Saturday, President Mahama met with President Vila Nova of São Tomé, where they discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Both leaders agreed on the importance of sharing experiences to boost the mutual benefits of their countries.The meetings were attended by key government officials, including Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, National Security Advisor Prosper Bani, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and Presidential Advisor Joyce Bawah Mogtari.
