|
Ghana
to tap into Trinidad and Tobago's rich oil industry
experience
From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Port-of-Spain, Aug. 1, Ghanadot/GNA - President John Agyekum
Kufuor has expressed Ghana's desire to tap into Trinidad and
Tobago's vast experience in the petroleum and hydrocarbon
industry as the country took steps to ensure best practices
in the management of the expected revenue from oil.
Oil and gas account for 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and 80 per cent of export of the Caribbean
state.
President Kufuor said it also wanted to see stronger ties
developed between the educational institutions of the two
countries, particularly the universities and research
institutions as well as tourism.
He was addressing the 10th Emancipation Awards Ceremony held
by the National Association for the Empowerment of African
People at the Centre of Excellence in Port-of-Spain, capital
city of Trinidad and Tobago.
He is the country to join in the celebration of this year's
Emancipation Day as the Special Guest of Honour.
The event is observed on August 1 every year with joyous
street parade and cultural village to commemorate the end of
slavery.
President Kufuor said his presence was to re-establish,
re-new and re-invigorate the ties that bind the two nations
together and to explore new avenues for co-operation in the
ever globalizing economy.
"Let us resolve to make what was once our tragedy into a
force for development", he said, adding that, emancipation
should liberate Africans from economic want and
under-development.
He said inter-dependence had become increasingly necessary
in today's world, more so, as developing nations were faced
with critical challenges, which threatened to undermine the
economic gains made in recent times.
He made reference to the triple challenges of climate
change, high energy and food cost and asked that developing
countries including the Caribbean and Africa should get
fully and effectively involved in finding solutions to these
problems.
"As our countries put our voices together in order to be
heard, we must also strengthen our co-operation in resource
development, especially in education, science and
technology."
President Kufuor called for determined effort to fight the
new form of slavery that expresses itself in the form of
child trafficking, child labour, bad governance and
terrorism.
These evils, he said, must be removed in the true spirit of
emancipation.
Professor Selwyn R. Cudjoe, President of the Association,
spoke of the need for massive mobilisation of black
organisations to assist transform the mindset of the black
youth, who he said were in deep psychological crisis.
President Kufuor, earlier on arrival, was given red carpet
welcome.
The Prime Minister, Mr Patrick Manning and his, Ministers of
State and the Diplomatic Community were on hand to
officially receive him at the Piarco International Airport.
After exchange of pleasantries, he was escorted to a
saluting dias and as he mounted it, the military band struck
the anthems of Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago, while the
cannons boomed at the background.
He later inspected a military Guard of Honour and treated to
spectacular cultural performances that told the history of
the country and driven through the streets in a state ride.
GNA
|
