Ghana is set to enter into new areas of cooperation with the Island country of Bermuda.
This follows the visit to Bermuda by Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland, Papa Owusu-Ankomah.
The visit was to explore business opportunities and deepen bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The meeting was facilitated by a Ghanaian eye surgeon and Medical Director of the Bermuda International Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr. Leonard Teye-Botchway who was commissioned as the Honorary Consul-General to Bermuda in September 2012 as well as Nana Otu Turkson, a Ghanaian national, and a surveyor at the Bermuda Ministry of Public Works.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah in the meeting with the governor of Bermuda, John Rankin emphasised the similarities that exist between Ghana and Bermuda and the potential areas of cooperation between the two countries.
He said “Ghana is on the path of digitisation and industrialisation” and called on the Bermudian business community to partner their Ghanaian counterparts.
Mr. Rankin said both countries could explore opportunities in the fintech and financial sectors, commending the Ghanaian community in Bermuda for their exemplary and active involvement in the development agenda of the Island.
David Burt, the Premier of Bermuda at a separate meeting underscored the significance of the visit and commended the Government and People of Ghana for championing the diaspora re-integration.
He said his Government is committed to deepening bilateral relations with Ghana, adding that his Government is working to diversify the Bermudian economy and unearth new streams of economic activity and one such avenues for economic diversification has been to build on the strength of Bermuda in financial services – to establish a fintech ecosystem that is best in class and which would attract fintech companies to domicile in Bermuda.
Mr. Burt underscored the focus of his Government in “building a Bermuda that is fair, inclusive and accessible economy, where every citizen has an equal opportunity to earn a living, with a decent job opportunity, build a career, develop a business and grow wealth; regardless of race, creed, colour or legacy.”
Papa Owusu Ankomah called for Bermudians to explore joint ventureships with and partner with Ghanaians in the areas of mechanised agriculture, agro-processing, re-insurance and other sectors of the economy.
On export of agricultural produce to Bermuda, the High Commissioner was convinced that given the enormous opportunities in the production of organic products from Ghana, this could be one area that both countries could explore.
The Premier and the High Commissioner agreed that there was urgent need to address easy movement of people, goods and services within the two countries. Another area of cooperation that came up for discussion was the recruitment of professional health workers, artisans and other specific technical workers.
In a town hall meeting made up of Ghanaians, other Africans, Bermudians and Caribbean citizens, the High Commissioner invite the attendees to visit Ghana as “we celebrate the ‘Year of Return’ and explore the enormous business opportunities.”