By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Nov. 16, GNA – Prime Minister Mia
Amor Mottley of Barbados has pledged the Caribbean nation’s readiness to trade
with Ghana and explore business/investment opportunities here for mutual
benefits.
She said Barbados would not only trade in
goods and services with Ghana and Africa, but would also exchange the best of
human talents, geared towards accelerating the development of both economies.
Ghana and Barbados shared a common heritage,
she said, adding; “We eat the same food, we wear the same clothes, and so let’s
work together and explore the opportunities, in order to make this region a
better place than what we left it”.
Ghana recently announced plans to export
about 400 nurses and other professionals to Barbados as part of efforts to
boost bilateral relations and provide jobs for the unemployed graduates.
The Prime Minister of Barbados, who was the
Special Guest of Honour at the 18th Edition of the Ghana Club 100 Awards in
Accra on Friday, said the private sector was the engine of growth that could
make a fundamental difference towards the socio-economic development of every
nation.
She said, for instance, that the Republic
Bank, which had 41 branches in Ghana, originated from Barbados with majority
shareholding.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo warmly
welcomed the Barbados Prime Minister to Ghana and pledged his government’s
commitment to cooperating with her country to bolster the fortunes of both
economies.
The President re-affirmed his government’s
commitment to supporting the country’s private sector to thrive, saying; “We
want to do whatever we can to make sure the private sector flourishes and
develops Ghana”.
“So count on the support of this government
for whatever you’re doing. Our hearts and minds are clear. We want you to
succeed because when you succeed, government succeeds,” the President said.
This year’s Ghana Club 100 Awards was on the
theme: “Sustainable Agriculture: The Bedrock of Ghana’s Industrial Drive,”
which brought together captains of industry, policy makers, ministers of State,
traditional leaders and the Diplomatic Community.
Dignitaries present included Ms Shirley
Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr
Allan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mrs Barbara
Oteng-Gyasi, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ernest Addison, the
Governor of the Bank of Ghana,
and Mr Albert Kofi Owusu, the General Manager of the Ghana News Agency.
It was organised by the Ghana Investment
Promotion Centre to recognise the 100 best performing companies in Ghana for
their contributions towards the growth of the economy.
GNA
