Story by Hannah Dadzie
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Netherlands government have affirmed to strengthen the linkages in different areas to boost cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries at an inaugural Political Consultations held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
The meeting was led by the Coordinating Director, Political and Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Hannah Nyarko and Deputy Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa Department of The Netherlands, Ms Martine Van Hoogstraten.
It discussed matters of mutual interest, Defence and security, migration and development, trades and investment, Agriculture, education, culture and training, environment and climate change among others.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Hannah Nyarko said the Ghana-Netherlands cooperation will foster mutual benefits for the two countries and build a strong position for them on world market.
“As Ghana pursues its Ghana beyond aid agenda, based on boosting trade, we will continue to rely on your support for the implementation of Ghana’s flagship programmes for industrial transformation which include, One-District One-Factory Initiative and Agenda 111,” Ambassador Nyarko said.
Ms Martine Hoogstraten noted that they will continue to support innovative and sustainable initiatives in Ghana.
The institutionalisation of this political dialogue will help the two countries take stock of cooperation to assess how it will benefit them. It will further consolidate Ghana’s relations with the Netherlands with a view to enhance a number of mutually beneficial partnerships and cooperation that positively impact them.
Ghana, the Netherlands relations
Ghana and the Netherlands have maintained diplomatic relations since 1701, which have enabled the two countries to develop a common history and interconnecting cultures, resulting in shared values. Over the years, the cooperation between the two countries has traversed in various sectors including trades and investment. The Netherlands is the first largest export destination for Ghana. Ghana’s exports to the Netherlands are predominantly primary and semi-finished goods, which include Cocoa beans, Cocoa butter.
A Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, on political consultation was signed between the two countries. The MOU is to establish a mechanism for regular political consultations on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The first edition of the Ghana-Netherlands Political dialogue brought together participants from the Foreign Ministry of the two countries, relevant stakeholders, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and representatives of concerned institutions in the Netherlands.