The fourth session of the Ghana-South Africa Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) has ended in Accra.
The PJCC was preceded by a meeting of senior officials from both countries from Wednesday, May 4 to Thursday, May 5.
Ms Hannah Serwaa Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration led Ghana’s delegation to the two-day meeting, while Ms Maite Emily Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, led her country’s delegation.
In attendance were Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa; Ms Lulama Xingwana, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Ghana; Mr Leslie Christian, Chief Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Mr Dawarnoba Beaka, Chief Director, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Mr Lebogang Makoloi, Acting Chief Director, Africa Bilateral Relations, South Africa.
Both parties acknowledged the historical and long-standing bilateral ties as well as the support Ghana gave South Africa during the period of the liberation struggle against apartheid.
The agenda for the group was to review bilateral cooperation and exchange of views on regional and international developments.
The parties agreed to the memoranda of understanding between the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Trade and Investment South Africa, the Ghana Standard Authority and the South Africa Bureau of Standards, among others.
Other areas of collaboration were agriculture, oil and gas, science and technology, maritime, rail, environment, youth development, housing and justice delivery.
Ms Tetteh in her closing remarks on Friday, said a number of agreements have been signed between the two countries, which would be fully implemented to further boost the existing cooperation between them.
She said the agreements would be translated to actual tangible programmes and projects which would be mutually beneficially to the citizenry of both countries.
Ms Nkoana-Mashabane hailed the role of Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah in the liberation struggle in Africa.
She said all other continents have aging population but Africa has a youthful population of more than 60 per cent; which would be harnessed for the continent’s socio-economic development.
Ms Nkoana-Mashabane extended an invitation to her Ghanaian counterpart to pay a return working visit to South Africa.
As part of the PJCC meeting, a made Ghana product exhibition was held. The fifth session would be held in Pretoria, South Africa.
Source: GNA
