President Akufo-Addo says the empowerment and development of the youthful populations of Ghana and South Africa must be the driving force behind renewed relations between the two beacon African states.
The president made this call in a speech as he proposed the toast for a state dinner yesterday (4 December 2021) at Jubilee House, Accra, in honour of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa to mark his three-day state visit to Ghana (3-5 December).
President Akufo-Addo argued that as Ghana deepens relations with South Africa, there is an urgent need to ensure that the youth of both countries are the main focus of all efforts to increase trade and economic co-operation between the states.
“I share wholly the vision of the possibilities of enhanced trade and investment relations co-operation between Ghana and South Africa. It is the most effective way towards building a sustainable future of progress and prosperity for our respective countries and populations, and maintaining a healthy relationship between our two nations,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“For me, one of the essential pillars of our relations must be the mutual nurturing of our young people. They are the ones to inherit the legacy of our current co-operative endeavours. We should work towards preserving and further enriching it,” he said.
According to President Akufo-Addo, his desire is that Ghana and South Africa pay “closer attention to educational and cultural exchanges between Ghanaian and South African youth” to enable the two prominent African states to deepen understanding between their peoples and “make better use of the strong friendship” they share.
Co-operation in sports
In the arena of sports, President Akufo-Addo indicated that it is time for Ghana and South Africa to have “formal relations and co-operation in sports and cultural exchanges”.
In a good-humoured reference to the recent defeat the South African national soccer team suffered at the hands of the Black Stars, which became the subject of litigation between Ghana and South Africa before FIFA, the football world governing body, he said South Africa has a lot to learn from Ghana in soccer, just as Ghana has a great deal to learn from South Africa in rugby.
“I am sure there is much South Africa can learn from Ghana in soccer, where we are obviously your senior brothers, just as Ghana can in rugby, where we are some way away from producing a Siya [Siyamthanda] Kolisi, the great captain of South Africa’s World Cup-winning side,” Akufo-Addo said.
South African appreciation
President Ramaphosa, responding to the toast proposed by President Akufo-Addo, declared that the people of South Africa will never forget the pivotal role Ghana played in the struggle against apartheid.
Today, he said, Africa is facing new challenges that must be confronted with the same vigour and purposefulness that the continent fought for political emancipation.
Forbes award
On a personal note, President Ramaphosa congratulated President Akufo-Addo on his selection as the African of the Year 2021 by Forbes, the respected and internationally published magazine focusing on business, investment, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and lifestyle.
“Allow me to be personal and congratulate you for being chosen as the African of Year by Forbes magazine. The recognition of this magazine is about your vision not only for Ghana, but for the people of our continent as well,” the South African president said.
“We are proud of this recognition, Your Excellency, because it speaks of your commitment, it speaks of your creativity, your innovation and your clear strategic vision of showmanship in your own country as well as on our beloved African continent,” he said.
Wilberforce Asare
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