SVG Gov’t Signs Co-operative Agreement And MOU With Ghana Gov’t

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (SVG) has signed two bilateral agreements with the Government of the Republic of Ghana – having done so on November 30, 2018, along with Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor-Botchway during a state visit to the African country.

The first is a General Co-operation Agreement between the two governments; whilst the second is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a visa waiver for travel from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Ghana.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs described Prime Minister Gonsalves as the “champion of the Africa-Caribbean co-operation initiative”, and noted that Africa and the Caribbean do not have the strong bonds that should exist given that “…we are one and the same people”. She added that the signing of these agreements is a step which would usher in a new era of relationship which would be beneficial to both countries.

PM Gonsalves asserted: “We ought to form an African-Brazil-Caribbean Commission to enhance trade and economic cooperation, marine and air transport co-operation among others.”

Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo responded by suggesting that the relevant Diasporas be added making it the ‘ABCD Commission’ – a group which consists of at least 1.7 billion people.

Citing the signing of the agreements as a “starting point”, PM Gonsalves said the cooperation agreement is very important and Ghana itself is an equally important staging post for future development and cooperation.

The General Co-operation Agreement covers areas that include agriculture, education, culture, Information & Communications Technology and human resource expertise.

Before the signing of the visa waiver MOU, citizens of Ghana did not require a visa for travel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. However, there was a visa requirement for citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for travel to Ghana.

[Source: Agency for Public Information]