The report that Ghana’s Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has met with Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss issues relating to the strengthening of diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Vatican is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Thursday.
The Graphic reports that Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has met with Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss issues relating to the strengthening of diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Vatican.
The cordial discussions also touched on reinforcing the positive relations between the Holy See and Ghana. The historic meeting took place at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican yesterday.
Key among the subjects discussed included the political and socio-economic landscape of Ghana, with particular focus on collaborations in the education and healthcare sectors.
The engagement between Dr Bawumia and Pope Francis further underscored the commitment of Ghana to advance its socio-economic development and foster partnerships with international stakeholders to achieve common goals.
As part of his itinerary, Dr Bawumia, who is on a visit to the Republic of Italy, also met with the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations at the Vatican, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, with whom he also discussed the need for strong ties between Ghana and the Vatican.
Dr Bawumia and Archbishop Gallagher further explored avenues for cooperation on various issues of mutual interest, which included the exchange of views on current international issues on security challenges facing West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
The newspaper says that the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has said that the country needed a leader that prioritized integrity, truth, and accountability.
Speaking at the outdooring ceremony of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate for the party in Accra today, April 24, the former president stated that Ghana’s current challenges required a different type of leadership that is willing to take unconventional approaches.
“Ghana in its current crisis needs a leadership that will do things differently including sacrificing personal comforts to achieve a Ghana of shared prosperity for all of us and not just a few.”
According to Mr. Mahama, the next four years will be critical for Ghana’s future.
He stated that the decisions and actions of the country’s leadership during this period will determine whether Ghana can overcome its current challenges, noting also that there is a need for swift and decisive action.
He pointed out that every single day matters in determining Ghana’s future success.
“If there was any indication of intent to think outside the box to be innovative and use our best human resources to deliver the Ghana we all want, then it is in my choice of Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as my running-mate.”
“As my running-mate and potential vice president of Ghana going into the 2024 elections, I do not doubt this as her globally acclaimed credentials attest to that. Naana Jane is a woman of unquestionable integrity and whose reputation for honesty and ethical behaviour is unparalleled.”
The Ghanaian Times reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday inaugurated the second phase of the Solar Power Plant Project at Kaleo in the Upper West Region with an installed capacity of 15Mega Watts of power (MWp).
The €17.8 million project, installed by the Elecnor S.A from Spain with consultancy from Tractebel Engineering from Germany, was funded by the German Development Bank.
President Akufo-Addo said the project confirmed the commitment of the government to diversify the country’s energy generation portfolio and also increase Ghana and Volta River Authority (VRA) generation capacity by 15MWp.
He also said the first and second phase of the projects would now deliver a combined power supply of about 28MWp at no additional cost, due to competent technical inputs.
He also noted that the government would continue to invest in the electricity transmission network to enable the country to evacuate more reliable renewable energy through the national grid in order to support the extension of electricity to all parts of the country.
“This project will not only empower homes and businesses, but also serve as a catalyst for development in the Upper West Region, attracting investment and spurring innovation,” he stated.
The President commended the project contractor, Elecnor S.A., from Spain and the consultant, Tractebel Engineering, and VRA for executing the project to expectation.
“There is the need for everyone to support the sustainable oper¬ation of this facility and together each of us will play our small part to help build our beloved motherland for the benefit of ourselves and future generations, let us continue to work together towards harnessing the full potential of renewable energy and building a brighter tomorrow for all our citizens,” he said.
The newspaper says that Master Drilling Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Master Drilling Group, has entered into partnership with Pamicor Limited, a Ghanaian firm specialised in development and production, drilling and human resources management for the mining industry.
The alliance is to empower Master Drilling Ghana to deliver comprehensive turnkey solutions to the underground mining sector and promote the local content agenda of the government in the mining sector.
The Executive Director of Master Drilling Ghana Limited, Mr Gary Sheppard, underscored the strategic significance of the acquisition.
He emphasised that Master Drilling Ghana Limited was playing crucial role in delivering specialised services and technological innovations to enhance operational efficiency and safety standards within the mining sector.
Mr Sheppard said the company had a good track record in the Ghanaian market and had successfully executed various critical projects for mining companies.
The projects, he mentioned, include ventilation shafts, ore passes, slot raises, dewatering holes, and escape ways.
Mr Sheppard said the partnership formed part of his outfit’s commitment to localising and bolstering its service offerings.
“The collaborative vision extends beyond Ghana, aiming to extend services across West Africa. Leveraging cutting-edge mechanical tools, the partnership intends to revolutionise conventional shaft sinking and horizontal development practices, promising transformative impacts on the industry,” he stated.
Commenting on the partnership, the Director of Pamicor Limited, Mr Kofi P. Amponsah-Mensah, said partnership between foreign and local entities brought enormous value to the country.
“This partnership is strategically made to provide specialised services and introduce technological innovations to improve operations in the mining sector,” he stated.
GIK/APA