She said currently the two countries enjoyed a close relationship, noting that she, as Norway’s Ambassador to Ghana, was both very “happy and proud of our strong and ever-strengthening partnership”.

“We work together and see eye to eye in many areas, including the maritime field, fisheries, energy, the health sector, education, food security and multilateral affairs, as we are both members of the United Nations Security Council,” she said.

Norway’s Constitution Day

Ms Mollestad said this at the commemoration of Norway’s Constitution Day at her residence in Accra last Tuesday.

The Constitution Day is the national day of Norway and official public holiday observed on May 17, each year.

The day came into being at Eidsvoll on May 17, 1814 and the Constitution declared Norway to be an independent Kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark-Norway’s devastating defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.

Last Tuesday’s event attracted people from all walks of life, including ministers of state, Members of Parliament, members of the Diplomatic Corps, celebrities, academics, among others.

Shedding light on the Constitution Day, the Norwegian Ambassador said the day represented something very special to Norwegians, as that country’s Constitution was still in force, making it one of the oldest in the world.

“Also, May 17 has come to represent our independence, our peace and our freedom,” she emphasised.

Opportunities for Ghanaians

Ms Mollestad recalled the visit by the Norwegian Prime Minister to Ghana in 2019 and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s visit to Norway just a few weeks before the outbreak of the COVID-19 in 2020.

“We do hope to welcome President Akufo-Addo to Norway soon again. Norway has welcomed many Ghanaians to live, work and study over the years, as evidenced by the presence of the newly established Ghana-Norway Alumni Association,” she said.