President Akufo-Addo welcoming Guiseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy, at the Jubilee House.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has commended the effort of President Akufo-Addo in making Ghana’s economy better.
“Economic growth of about 8% there about is a very wonderful and fantastic performance,” he said when he paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House (Presidency) in Accra yesterday.
The Prime Minister said he considers Ghana a model of democracy and economic growth and sees the country as a partner of choice in West Africa for economic development, cooperation and growth.
“I consider Ghana a partner of choice in West Africa and I can say that our two countries are linked by common values, the respect of principles, sustainable economic development, economic cooperation and free trade,” he stressed.
President Akufo-Addo touted Ghana and Italy relations as a very good one and said it was evident in the fact that many Italian companies and Italian people had been very much part of the fabric of Ghana in a very positive manner.
“We value very much our relationship with Italy and we are looking for opportunities to expand that relationship. We are hoping that your visit here in Ghana will offer us that opportunity to do so,” he said.
He stressed the need for cooperation in the area of security between Ghana and for that matter West Africa and its European partners to wage war against terrorism in the sub-region.
“We are also now very committed to enhancing our security cooperation with Italy. I think this is an area that profitably Ghana can benefit,” the President said.
“As you know, today West Africa faces all kinds of … security challenges. For the time being, we are not part of what is going on and we want to keep it like that, even better; we want to live in a West Africa where the terrorists and those interested in violence extremism will be moved out of the area completely,” he added.
After the meeting, Ghana and Italy signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation.
Ghana’s Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, signed on behalf of Ghana and the Defence Minister of Italy, Lorenzo Guerini, signed on behalf of his country.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent