General News of Friday, 20 April 2018
Source: citinewsroom.com
2018-04-20
Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Ami Mehl, toasts to Ghana’s National Security Minister, Kan Dapaah
Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Ami Mehl, has announced that as part of efforts to boost Ghana-Israeli relations particularly in the area of trade ties, the Embassy in Ghana will set up a Commercial Division.
“In 2016, we inaugurated Ghana Israel Business Chambers headed by Togbe Afede XIV and its Patron being Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams. That paved the way to open a Commercial Division in the Israeli Embassy in the upcoming summer. We hope that it will promote and deepen the economic relations between Israel and Ghana” Mr. Ami Mehl stated.
The Ambassador was speaking during the National Day Reception of the State of Israel at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra, to mark Israel’s 70th Independence anniversary celebration.
Giving a brief history of the Israeli independence struggle which dates back to over 3000 years ago, the Ambassador said Israelis have braved the storm to build a great nation that can boast of transformational advancement in critical areas of national development.
“The security challenges, forced the State of Israel to invest in research and development in security and defense. It was also clear that the State of Israel has to ensure an independent food production for its citizens, in spite of the fact that about 50 percent of the Land of Israel is a desert.”
He said Israel has spent a huge chunk of its resources to invest in developing the agricultural sector.
“In addition, advanced technologies in water treatment were developed, such as, drip irrigation; recycling of sewage water, water purification and sea water desalination. Israel became a world class leader, in many fields. Especially noteworthy is its Cyber Technology.”
“Today, the small state of Israel has managed to change within 70 years from a country that is mainly focused on export of oranges to Silicon Valley – a country that exports technological innovations.”
The state of Israel has become synonymous with quality. Israeli businesses, many of which operate in Ghana, would be happy to share with Ghana the Israeli Technological abilities for the benefit of the whole Ghanaian population.
He said the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to strengthen and cultivate Israel relations with Africa.
“One of the peaks of this process is the ECOWAS Summit in Liberia on 4th June 2017. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in his speech that ‘Israel is coming back to Africa, and Africa is coming back to Israel’ Israel-Ghana relations are playing an important role in this trend.”
Improving Israel Ghana-relations
According to Ami Mehl, Israel and Ghana have a long term partnership and friendship, which started right from the beginning when independent Ghana was first Sub-Sharan African country that recognized the State of Israel.
“The young state of Israel, which was earlier under British Mandate showed a lot of solidarity with the African countries which were liberated from the chains of colonialism at that time. That led a flourishing cooperation between the two countries. In 1994 Israel-Ghana relations were renewed and were boosted in 2011 with the opening of an Israeli Embassy in Accra. In 2016, we inaugurated Ghana Israel Business Chambers headed by Togbe Afede XIV and its Patron being Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams.
Israeli support to Ghana
He noted that Ghanaians have visited important technological exhibitions in Israel like Cybertech and Watec, and in the near Future, Agritech, Biomed, and others.
“Israel Ghana cooperation have also resulted in projects like the University of Ghana Medical Center, 3K Water Project, the Accra Tema Metropolitan Area Rural Water Rehabilitation Project and the Prabon Greenfields Estates – Kumasi and there are more to come. Israel’s well known Agency for International Development and Cooperation, MASHAV has operated countless successful long-lasting projects of cooperation in different areas such as health, education, agriculture and more.
Ami Mehl concluded by saying, “I am pleased to conclude that Israel-Ghana relations are continuing to develop and bloom. On Israel’s 70th Independence Day, we wish all peace and prosperity and pray that “He who makes peace on high, may he bring peace upon us and upon all of Israel and humanity”.
Ghana’s National Security Minister, Kan Dapaah, who led a government delegation to the occasion, wished Israel a happy independence anniversary, and said Ghana’s friendship with Israel which dates back to pre-independence era, “has developed into an effective collaboration for the development of our countries.”
He said this was evident in partnerships in the areas of agriculture, communication, health, education, trade, water, cyber security among other mutual benefits. He thanked the Israeli government for giving some Ghanaian students and public sector workers scholarships to study relevant programmes in agriculture in Israel.
The National Day Reception was attended by members of the Israeli community in Ghana, past and present government officials, business executives, the clergy, and traditional leaders among others.