The Accra assemblage will engender interventions that would pursue common grounds on economic, administrative, social and cultural interactions, as well as relate them to new issues in order to harmonize formal frameworks for the mutual benefit of both nations.
It is also meant to strengthen the historical and fraternal ties between the governments and people of the two countries.
“We need to deepen and expand our ties for the achievement of our common goals…As much as this may be a daunting task, it is nevertheless necessary,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, at the opening of the 11th Session of the Ghana-Mali Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation (PJCC).
“We dare not fail our people, otherwise we risk being judged harshly by history. Together we can do more for the benefit of our people,” he said.
The PJCC was constituted in 1977 to negotiate several broad converging interests between both countries in various spheres, underscoring the importance of complementing trade and investment policies, as well as setting targets for closer coordination and cooperation at regional and international levels.
Alhaji Mumuni said both countries faced the common challenge of poverty and underdevelopment, which needed to be confronted individually and collectively to place “our respective countries on the path towards development and prosperity”.
He underscored the importance of continually ratifying the various ECOWAS protocols, especially the regional Trade Liberalization Scheme, to facilitate trade between both countries as well as sensitize the business communities on the advantages of the West African Monetary Agency.
The Minister said existing protocol agreements on maritime transport, transit, shipping and haulage, dry dock facilitation and issues related to energy and security among others emanating from previous sessions would need to be revisited to ensure their effective implementation.
He tasked the delegates to seek common ground to understand each other’s areas of need and to explore identifiable sectors of significant comparative advantages.
Dr. Badara Aliu Macalou, Malian Minister for Malians Abroad and African Integration, urged the Governments of both countries to vigorously implement decisions of the PJCC.
This, he said, would further improve the quality of the bilateral relationship between Ghana and Mali that would inure to the benefit of the citizens of both countries.
“We have to work together for the prosperity of our people,” he said.
Dr Macalou recalled the long-standing history of both nations dating back to the era of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Modibo Keita, the first Presidents of Ghana and Mali respectively, and urged the delegates to continue to promote the exemplary partnership between both countries.
GNA
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