Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has called for increased co-operation between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago for the benefit of the two countries.
He said there is a lot the two countries can do together to enhance South-South co-operation as well as share lessons and experiences.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur said this at a cocktail reception held in honour of Dr Keith Christopher Rowley, the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister.
The relations between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago go back to the period before independence, he said, adding that Ghana is committed to working with Trinidad and Tobago in all sectors including the oil and gas sector.
The reception which was attended by government officials, business executives and Trinidad and Tobago citizens in Ghana was hosted by the HFC Bank and Republic Financial Holdings Limited.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur said government is currently focused on developing world-class infrastructure to support the sustainable exploitation of the country’s substantial natural resources.
He said efforts in that regard includes the revamping of the country’s power sector by adding new power generation capacities, modernize transmission and distribution facilities, expand health, educational facilities and the transport network.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur said though Trinidad and Tobago is a small country, it has however developed an impressive economy, social harmony and political stability.
“We hope that Ghana can benefit from the expertise you have developed, especially in entrenching local content and creating jobs in the natural gas sector” he said.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur said government was committed to provide a business-friendly environment that applies laws and regulates businesses in a transparent manner and ensures fairness.
He called for joint venture arrangements between Ghanaian businesses and foreign counterparts as we continue to promote Public Private Partnerships (PPP) adding that the Republic Bank could serve as the arrowhead and point of contact for investments from Trinidad and Tobago.
Prime Minister Rowley said the role played by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore and C. R James in the decolonization of Africa and people of African descent facilitated the bond between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago.
He said three men were brought together by fate, and not for their selfish interests, but for our own future whose time has now come.
Prime Minister Rowley said the presence of the Republic Bank in Ghana was a practical expression of the African Caribbean agenda, actualizing the vision articulated by the founding fathers.
He said the relationship between Republic Bank and HFC have already started yielding dividends adding that this proves that the Atlantic Ocean is not a barrier to the future of the two countries.
He said the presence of Republic Bank has showed that Trinidad and Tobago is trail blazer for investments in Africa with Ghana being the entry point to the West African market.
Source: GNA
