By Donique Weston
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Jamaica and the Republic of Ghana are poised to deepen cooperation in key areas, including health, education, tourism and air services, following extensive bilateral discussions between the leaders of both nations.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, held bilateral talks with Ghana’s president, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, at the office of the prime minister in Kingston on August 3.
President Mahama is in Jamaica on a State visit through August 5. He is accompanied by Ghana’s minister of foreign affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and deputy minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi.
In a media statement, Holness noted that president Mahama’s visit underscores and strengthens the long-standing diplomatic relationship between Jamaica and Ghana.
“It builds on several high-level engagements at the bilateral level between our two foreign ministers, which have resulted in the signing of an agreement for the recruitment of health professionals from the Republic of Ghana and a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, as well as the updating of the agreement on arts and culture,” the prime minister stated. He pointed out that the health cooperation agreement is already yielding benefits, with the anticipated arrival of Ghanaian nurses to help strengthen Jamaica’s healthcare system.
Holness said he was particularly encouraged by discussions on an air services agreement and opportunities to expand tourism cooperation.
“Indeed, I’m hopeful that in the very near future, we could see direct flights from [Ghana’s capital] Accra to Montego Bay,” he stated.
Highlighting last month’s Virtual Investment and New Markets Ministerial Business Mission, which formed part of a broader engagement strategy with continental Africa, Holness noted that the initiative facilitated valuable connections between Jamaican and Ghanaian companies.
“We are seeing results already in the areas of logistics, tourism, hospitality, agro-processing, ICT (information and communications technology), fintech (financial technology) and the creative industries,” he stated.
The prime minister noted that Ghana’s fintech sector is experiencing significant growth and said Jamaica could benefit from the country’s experience and expertise in this area.
“It is in this context, president, that we are happy that you will also be visiting the Port of Kingston. In the same way as Ghana is expanding your own ports and logistics operations to become the gateway to West Africa, Jamaica is also expanding all ports and logistics operations to be the gateway of the Caribbean and Latin America,” Holness stated.
He said that by strengthening connectivity between their ports, Jamaica and Ghana could provide exporters and investors on both sides of the Atlantic with a more efficient gateway to new markets.
“We can make it easier for your Ghanaian exporters to reach the Caribbean and the Americas and easier for a Jamaican exporter to reach Africa, particularly in the context of the African continental free trade area,” the prime minister added.
Jamaica places great value on its relationship with Ghana, as a trusted friend and partner with whom it shares common aspirations for sustainable development, inclusive growth, and a stronger voice for developing countries and the international community.
In his remarks, president Mahama noted that, building on their historic ties, Jamaica and Ghana have fresh opportunities to strengthen solidarity and advance the economic empowerment and prosperity of their peoples.
“We have no option but to work together… and bring our comparative advantages together to be able to create the prosperity that our people deserve,” he stated.
Citing discussions with Holness on bringing Jamaican and Ghanaian business leaders together, president Mahama said such engagement would provide a strong foundation for promoting cross-investment opportunities between both countries.
“There are many opportunities that exist here in Jamaica, and there are many opportunities that exist in Ghana. Both of us have the vision of creating our nations into hubs for our sub-regions. So, hub to hub, we can cooperate, both in investments and in terms of movement of people and services between Accra and Jamaica,” he detailed.
President Mahama indicated that he was looking forward to meeting with Jamaican business leaders to discuss investment opportunities in Ghana and, by extension, across Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Meanwhile, he noted that Ghana is eager to operationalise the bilateral air services agreement with Jamaica.
“It’s currently before our parliament, and we’ll fast-track it so that it becomes operational, so that either national carriers between Jamaica and Ghana or third-party carriers can fly direct flights from Accra to Montego Bay,” he stated.
On the matter of health cooperation, president Mahama noted that discussions also explored exchange programmes under which Jamaican healthcare professionals could receive training in Ghana and return home with enhanced skills and expertise to support Jamaica’s healthcare system.
“We’re looking at exchange of teachers… physics and maths teachers, science teachers, and all that. So these are all areas that we can activate,” he informed.
President Mahama affirmed that his visit to Jamaica has thus far been highly productive and forward-looking.
“We are concluding these engagements with a clear roadmap, with a strong political will and renewed momentum to further deepen Ghana-Jamaica relations,” he added.