Ghana, Malta are committed to strengthening ties
Ghana and Malta have expressed their commitment to deepen relations in the fields of tourism and culture, as well as trade and investment.
To this end, the two countries will set up special committees to work out the modalities for achieving the goals.
This was the result of a meeting between the President of Malta, Dr George Vella, and the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, when the latter made a courtesy call to Dr Vella in his office in Valletta, Malta, last Monday.
Dr Awal was in Malta to attend the Mediterranean Tourism Investment Forum organized by the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation.
He was accompanied by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malta, Barbara Akoukor Benisa, and some members of the High Commission and ministry staff.
The team also made a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, as well as the Maltese Minister for Tourism, Clayton Bartolo, and the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Owen Bonnici.
Ghana-Malta relations
The Maltese President described the relationship between Malta and Ghana as very cordial and expressed the need for the two countries to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the fields of tourism, culture, trade and investment.
Dr Vella revealed that tourism accounts for more than 40 per cent of Malta’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and said that both countries can share knowledge and experience about tourism development as a window to trade and investment.
He said that Malta could be the gateway to Ghana to attract tourists and investment from over 23 Mediterranean countries, including Turkey, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Croatia, France, -Italy, Spain and Greece.
Initiatives
For his part, Dr Awal told the Maltese President that the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was implementing a number of initiatives aimed at transforming Ghana’s economy and improving people’s lives.
He said that in the field of tourism, for example, fortresses, castles and heritage sites are being renovated and modernized to attract more tourists to the country.
He said the government is ensuring that tourism and the creative arts contribute significantly to the country’s GDP and job creation.
He added that Ghana is ready to share experiences with Malta in the fields of cooperation.
The Minister said that since tourism was a global economic activity without borders, it was imperative that no country be left behind in the efforts to achieve sustainable tourism that protects the environment and people.
Dr Awal urged businesses and investors from Malta and the Mediterranean in general to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to deepen trade relations with Africa.