Ghana and Rwanda have signed a General Cooperation Agreement that will lay the foundation for the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation between the two countries.
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (MP), and her counterpart, Dr Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, signed the agreement in Accra on Monday, 2 November 2020.
In her address at the brief event, Ms Botchwey intimated that the bilateral relations between the two countries reached a significant milestone in January 2020 with the establishment of the High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda in Ghana and appointment of Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira as the first Resident High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda to Ghana.
She further commended the Government of Rwanda and in particular, her Rwandan counterpart for his presence in Accra to open the new chancery, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This, according to the minister, demonstrates the commitment of Rwanda to elevate the relations between the two countries to a new level.
Ms Botchway also called on the business communities in Ghana and Rwanda to take advantage of the vast economic potentials in the two countries and in this regard, highlighted the conducive investment climate prevailing in Ghana as well as the incentive provided under the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act 2013, Act 865 and encourage the Rwandan Government to urge their businesses to invest in Ghana.
She mentioned that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents new opportunities to both countries to expand trade relations at the bilateral and continental levels while acknowledging the invaluable support of Rwanda in championing support for Ghana’s successful bid culminating in the hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra.
On behalf of the Government of Ghana, she expressed Ghana’s desire to work closely with Rwanda to consolidate the existing relations as well as explore further areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.