President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says his government has gone great lengths to establish a closer partnership between the private sectors of the United Kingdom and Ghana.

He explained that a deepened relationship was important for creating the much needed jobs for the youth in the country to stop them from embarking on perilous journeys to other countries, mostly in Europe.

President Akufo-Addo stated this when he received the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, Ms Priti Sushil Patel, at the Jubilee House in Accra last Wednesday.

He referred to the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement which the two nations appended their signatures to, and noted that it was a good step that must be pursued to its final conclusion.

The President further explained that the major preoccupation of his government was to create jobs locally since that was the surest way to stop the movement of the youth from this part of the world to other rich economies.

President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana was keenly interested in strengthening the economic bond between the two nations.

Prime Minister

The President commended the British Prime Minister, Mr Boris Johnson, for the tremendous job he had done towards vaccinating the British people to the admiration of the world.

He said Ghana was looking forward to emulating that to safeguard the health and lives of its people in spite of the enormous constraints in its way.

Connections

President Akufo-Addo traced the centuries-old relationship between Ghana and Great Britain and said some of it was good and others not so good, adding that the not so good was in the past and Ghana was looking forward to strengthening the good relationship.

“This government supports many of the initiatives taken by your government; we share the same ideology, value systems, and the rest,” the President alluded.

Interactions

For her part, Ms Patel said the interactions she had with the Ghanaian officials were not just an indication of friendship but partnership and cooperation on critical issues, ranging from national security to the protection of their countries and citizens.

COVID-19

The UK Home Secretary commended President Akufo-Addo “for your incredible work you are undertaking on the COVID-19 response”.

Ms Patel said that for her Prime Minister and the British people, Ghana and the UK were good partners who had closer ties and that her visit demonstrated the strength of their ties and friendship.