Zambia to strengthen ties with Ghana

Accra, June 27, GNA - Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has re-stated the commitment of his country to explore ways of deepening relations and co-operation with Ghana for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

'There are a lot of things you (Ghana) are doing in mining, agriculture, infrastructure development, amongst others, which can benefit Zambia, by being emulated. It is about common, good practices, Mr President, and what you do better, we should not hesitate to emulate,' he told President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his delegation during bilateral at the commencement of a three-day state visit to Zambia.

President Lungu told President Akufo-Addo that the outcome of the 2016 elections in Ghana 'was a true reflection of the confidence the people of Ghana have in your vision, and for that reason, we look forward to working closely with you during your tenure of office.'

He regretted that though both countries had an agreement for the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission on Co-operation (PJCC) to serve as the legal framework to address their trade and investment concerns, the arrangement had not been implemented.

However, he indicated that the PJCC would be given a new lease of life under his and the tenure of office of President Akufo-Addo, so as to ensure that 'our Ministers will begin co-operating, and, henceforth, make the PJCC a living document.'

President Lungu was confident that the pioneering role played by President Akufo-Addo, then foreign Minister of Ghana, in fashioning out the Ezulwini Consensus in 2005-, a position on international relations and reform of the United Nations agreed by the African Union- would be invaluable to the cause of the AU.

'You were a pioneer, you were there. So as we go to the UN General Assembly in September, I am sure that Africa can count on you as an anchor,' he added.

'We want a prosperous Africa, which is integrated, united, peaceful and secured, and influential, not only in Africa but in the UN family.

'Regional integration is one aspect which will lead us to the Africa we want. Zambia is proud to be a member of SADC, and we are equally proud of the role that you (President Akufo-Addo) are playing in ECOWAS, in terms of peace keeping in the region, and trying to find common grounds in improving co-operation and development of the African people we are privileged to look after,' he stressed.

President Akufo-Addo on his part, thanked his Zambian counterpart for inviting him to visit Zambia, and expressed appreciation to him for attending his inauguration on January 7, 2017, even with the political upheavals that existed in Zambia at the time, as a result of a closely fought election.

Noting the nearly six decade relations between Ghana and Zambia, President Akufo-Addo stated that 'in our time we must continue to build on it'.

He said the implementation of the PJCC would be the means to strengthening the areas of co-operation in trade, agriculture, mining, investments, amongst others, between the two countries.

On the Ezulwuni consensus, President Akufo-Addo noted that 'it is not right that we (Africa) continue to be marginalised on the Councils of the world. If, today, we make the decision to bring UN reforms back to the centre of the global agenda, I think it is an important thing to do. The G4 countries (Japan, Brazil, Germany and India) are ready to support the African position on UN reforms - the consensus that was fashioned in Ezulwini, some 12 years ago.'

To the Zambian President, President Akufo-Addo assured that his visit is to reciprocate the hand of friendship that you extended to Ghana, 'and to be able to say that we are ready to go side-by-side with you in developing this new paradigm for our continent - democratic accountability, more rapid economic growth, focus on stimulating and empowering our various private sectors.'

This, in the view of President Akufo-Addo, 'is the way forward for us to generate prosperity for our peoples in our time. That has to be the overriding concern - what we need to do to banish poverty on our continent. It continues to be an anomaly that we, who sit on the wealthiest resources, continue to be the poorest people in the world. That anomaly cannot continue.'

The co-operation and collaboration of African countries with each other, President Akufo-Addo, said is the way to overcoming Africa's developmental hurdles and, thereby, bettering the lives of the African peoples.

GNA

By Ken Sackey, GNA