Ghana and the Bahamas have agreed to deepen their cooperation through a visa-free regime for all passport holders of the two countries.
Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Rt. Hon. Philip Davis assured of his country’s willingness to sign a visa exemption agreement and asked for immediate negotiation on the agreement.
The two countries reached the agreement at the maiden Ghana-Bahamas Investment Summit, held under the auspices of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in Nassau in the Bahamas.
Ghana’s delegation was made up of Mr Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ambassador Samuel Yaw Nsiah, Ghana’s Ambassador to Cuba with concurrent accreditation to the Bahamas, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Information, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong and Mr Ahomka Lindsay, former Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry.
Rt. Hon. Davis underscored the importance of the investment summit in improving economic activity between the two countries. The summit was, therefore, tasked to seriously discuss practical steps aimed at introducing flights between Ghana and the Bahamas.
The aim of the summit, which was part of the Diaspora Connect Roadshow-Caribbean, was to reconnect with the people of African descent in the Bahamas in particular and the Caribbean as a whole. It was to showcase the economic and investment potential of two countries to strengthen and promote bilateral relations between Ghana and the Bahamas in the spirit of South-South cooperation.
Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong in his address underscored the need to improve economic diplomacy to forge partnerships and strengthen economic ties with the Caribbean, besides the ancestral, cultural and traditional ties between Ghana and the Bahamas.
That, he said, was the surest way of creating prosperity and improving the living standards of the people of the two countries. He expressed concern about the low trade volumes between the two countries and was optimistic that the summit would brainstorm on steps to bolster trade and investment for the benefit of the two countries.
He applauded the establishment of the Africa-Caribbean Trade Mission in Accra aimed at facilitating the connection between the Bahamas and Ghana.
“The Centre, we believe, will create the enabling environment for partnerships between the two business communities in various sectors of our respective economies, especially in the areas of tourism, fashion and textiles” he added.
He urged the business community in the two countries to fully explore the opportunities in the identified areas of cooperation to boost trade and investment by way of fostering joint ventures and exchange of knowledge and expertise.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the locational advantage of Ghana as the gateway to Africa, especially as it hosts the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has been established with the objectives of boosting intra-African trade and redefining Africa’s role in the global market.
He also touted Ghana’s political stability, peace and security, which positioned the country as the preferred destination for investment, including the fact that Ghana is the headquarters to some major multinational companies.
Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong was hopeful that the outcome of the summit would result in an increase in investment and trade activities between business operators of Ghana and the Bahamas.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
