President Akufo-Addo yesterday bade farewell to the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Iain Walker and his German counterpart, Christoph Retzlaff.
He thanked both for their impact and sterling performance during their duty tour of the country.
In a meeting at the Jubilee House, he stressed his government’s commitment to bringing new energy and strength into developing its new trade relations with the United Kingdom (UK).
The agreement, which he said was forged between the two nations following the exit of the UK from the European Union (EU), has strengthened the bilateral and trade relations between Ghana and the UK.
That, he said, has created a good condition for Ghana to trade effectively with the UK.
He, thus, congratulated the outgoing High Commissioner for a successful tour of duty in the country and urged him to be an ambassador for the country in his new endeavour.
“We appreciate very much the work you have done here,” he said, noting that very important officials from the UK visited Ghana during the tenure of Mr. Walker.
Notable among them, he said, were His Royal Highness, Prince Charles and his wife, and most recently, the UK Home Secretary, Priti Partel.
“The energy and your concern you brought to bear on your work here made it clear to us that you have the best interest of our country at heart,” he said, and indicated that the outgoing High Commissioner had set a difficult pattern for his successor to follow.
President Akufo-Addo touched on the 300-year relationship between Ghana and the UK and indicated that the relationship had a major impact on the lives of their people.
“Our official language is your language. Many of our institutions are firmly modelled to British institutions. Our system of law in Ghana is based on the common law in your country. All of these are as a result of the intercourse between our people and yours,” he said.
Mr. Walker, on his part, thanked the government for the support and added that he made a conscious effort to visit most part of the country.
“I guess time flies when you are having fun but it has been a phenomenal honour and privilege to represent my country here in Ghana,” he said.
On his part, the outgoing German Ambassador, Christoph Retzlaff, also thanked the President for the support given him during his stay in Ghana.
He acknowledged the level of growth and development of the country under Akufo-Addo’s watch and urged him to continue the good works he has started.
He commended the President for his commitment to strengthening the relationship between the two countries with a promise to market Ghana wherever he goes.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential CorrespondentÂ