Ghana’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Mrs. Elizabeth Mills Robertson, has urged Ghanaian businessmen to take advantage of untapped business opportunities in that country to promote trade between the two countries and enhance inter-ECOWAS trade.
“The process of ensuring peace has been achieved, and hence the environment for trade is conducive. Crime rate is low, the people are calm and a lot of opportunities exist in the real estate, pharmaceutical, textile, agric, small scale mining, and fishing industries”, she noted.
Speaking in an interview Today, when a group of Ghanaian journalists paid a familiarisation visit to her consulate in Freetown last week, she indicated that her office has had consultations with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and encouraged them to invest in Sierra Leone.
“Currently Ernest Chemist and La-Gray Pharmaceuticals both Ghanaian companies are operating in the country and as such others should take advantage of the favourable conditions and follow suit,”
the Ghanaian high commissioner to Sierra Leone disclosed.
the Ghanaian high commissioner to Sierra Leone disclosed.
As part of efforts to promote trade between the two ECOWAS states, she noted that a trade fair was held by the high commission in collaboration with the AGI to showcase made-in-Ghana products to the people of Sierra Leone this year.
“The companies came and displayed products ranging from textiles to agriculture,” Mrs. Mills Robertson indicated.
On bilateral relations, she said a lot of goodwill had been established between the two countries through various consultations and has also been strengthened through a lot of technical cooperation and bilateral arrangements in the areas of energy, health, fishing, and security.
According to her, “Relationship between the two countries has been cordial for a long time. This has even facilitated the signing of a technical agreement between Ghana and Sierra Leonean government this August in the area of energy.”
Part of the arrangement was that technical experts from the Volta River Authority and GRIDCO Ghana would assist the Sierra Leonean Energy Ministry to improve service delivery in their energy sector to ensure continuous supply of electricity from the Bunbuna Dam.
“As part of the initiatives to enhance goodwill between the two countries, Ghana has also helped with the training of their nurses, military persons at the Ghana Staff College and currently a team of personnel from the Ghana Police Service are in the country to train the Sierra Leonean Police Force to enable them carry out their mandate effectively and efficiently”, she stated.
On the upcoming elections in that country in 2012, Mrs. Mills Robertson said various deliberations have been held with the government and key stakeholders to ensure a successful election and also assured them of Ghana’s support and willingness to see a fruitful outcome of the process.
“All eyes are on Sierra Leone and hence we have been talking with the government and the National Electoral Commission to ensure free and fair elections. We will provide advice and suggestions when the need arises, and I have also gone to all ministries to let them know what Ghana can help them to develop,” she indicated.
Mrs. Robertson further stressed that Ghana was willing to pull the people of that country along the path of development and hence the Ghanaian professionals in the country have been providing various support to the communities to help them alleviate poverty.
“On Ghana’s Independence day this year, the Ghana Union provided various items to hospitals and needy institutions. Our professionals also provide career counseling for students to help them plan their careers. We are doing everything possible to ensure that peace and economic growth prevails here”, she emphasized.
Although Sierra Leone was a post-conflict nation, it could boast of clean and beautiful beaches, a lesson, she noted, was worthy of emulation by Ghanaians.
She also advised Ghanaians in that country and back home to always strive to be law abiding citizens in order to maintain the good image of Ghana in the international community.
“There are about 2,000 Ghanaians currently residing in Sierra Leone. They are made up of artisans, consultants, bankers, fishermen, traders and other professionals,” she disclosed
Source Theghanaianjournal
