President John Mahama has urged Ghana and the United Kingdom to strengthen their relationship, saying the changing global order creates an opportunity for democratic countries committed to multilateral cooperation to work more closely together.
Speaking at a meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Mahama said Ghana and the UK had built a longstanding relationship based on shared principles, including democracy, respect for human rights and constitutional governance.
He said the changes taking place in the international system made it increasingly important for countries with common interests to develop stronger partnerships.
“The whole global architecture is unraveling, and I think that this is a time for us to forge stronger partnerships between countries that believe in a multilateral system, a global system,” he said.
Mahama also welcomed what he described as Britain’s increasing willingness to engage with countries in other parts of the world, including Ghana.
The President praised the UK Prime Minister’s remarks on reparations, saying they could provide a basis for further conversations about the historical injustices linked to the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism.
“I appreciate your statement that you made in relation to reparations. I believe that it creates a first step for us to continue to work to see how we can put this whole issue of transatlantic slave trade and colonialism behind us,” he said.
Mahama said Ghana was prepared to work with the UK to secure outcomes that benefited both countries and to build on the foundations of their existing relationship.
He also referred to the participation of the UK representative in Ghana’s Accra Reset dialogue. During that event, the representative delivered what Mahama called a supportive speech on reducing dependency and creating a new approach to trade and investment.
The President said Ghana valued the contribution and expressed confidence that the two countries could use their established ties to expand cooperation.
About the Author
