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Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago
agree to establish Chamber of Commerce
From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special
Correspondent, Port-of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Port-of-Spain, Aug. 3, GNA- Ghana and the Caribbean State of
Trinidad and Tobago had pledged their resolve towards the
promotion of mutually beneficial- economic-trade relations
through a joint Chamber of Commerce.
This followed bilateral talks held between President John
Agyekum Kufuor and Prime Minister Patrick Manning, in
Port-of- Spain, capital city of Trinidad and Tobago.
This was on the last day of the President’s two-day official
State visit to the country to join in the celebration of
this year’s Emancipation Day and also to re-new the strong
ties existing between the two countries and to create new
opportunities for co-operation.
Addressing Journalists after their discussions, President
Kufuor, said Ghana was serious about teaming up through
University faculty exchanges with Trinidad and Tobago, which
has for more than 100 years been in the oil and gas
production business.
President Kufuor said this would help Ghana to train
petrochemical experts for the country’s oil industry,
following recent offshore oil discovery in commercial
quantities.
Oil and gas account for 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and 80 per cent export of the Caribbean
archipelagic nation with a population of a little over one
million and per capita income of 18,300 dollars.
Trinidad and Tobago boasts of a world class University
faculty for the training of petrochemical experts.
The President, who given red carpet welcome and treated to
spectacular cultural performances, said, it was important
for the Diasporean Africans to look more to Africa to
sustain the unbroken bond that had existed over the past 500
years.
He asked them to share in the principles and vision of the
African Union (AU) to secure a dignified corner for the
black race, adding “We must hold firmly together in our
drive into the global village.”
Mr Manning said his country was ready to share its expertise
and experiences particularly in the oil and gas industry
with Ghana.
He paid glowing tribute to President Kufuor, describing him
as “one of the more forward-looking and progressive leaders
in Africa.
President Kufuor who also met with the Ghanaian community
asked them to ignore the negative propaganda on the internet
that sought to suggest that their nation was on fire.
Ghana, he said, was doing very well, combining economic
progress with rapid democratization, through political
tolerance and respect for individual freedoms.
He noted that the free individual was more productive than
the one oppressed and said this was what was helping to
speed up the country’s development.
President Kufuor advised the Ghanaian Community to be
law-abiding and be exemplary in their conduct to project a
good image of Ghana.
He has since arrived in London en-route to Beijing, China,
to participate in the opening ceremony of the 29th Olympiad.
GNA
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