Ghanaian press spotlights signing of defence, economic pacts by Ghana, Portugal, others

APA – Accra (Ghana)
The signing of bilateral instruments of co-operation in the areas of defence, political consultation and trade between Ghana and Portugal is one of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Wednesday.
The Graphic reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, have signed bilateral instruments of co-operation in the areas of defence, political consultation and trade between the two countries.
This latest form of engagement, President Akufo-Addo said, would go a long way to strengthen the ties of friendship and the bonds of co-operation between Ghana and Portugal.
Speaking at a Joint Press Conference with President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa, as part of his 3-day State Visit to Portugal on Tuesday, 18th July 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal, the President stated that the move “is borne out of a decision by Ghana “to turn our back on our old economy, which has been dependent on the production and export of raw materials, and also dependent on aid.”
According to President Akufo-Addo, “we want to build a value-added, industrialised economy with a modernised agriculture, which is neither victim nor pawn of the world economic order. We want our relations with Portugal and, indeed, the rest of the world, to be characterised by an increase in trade and investment co-operation.”
He added that “this is the way to develop healthy relations between our two countries, and put Ghana at the high end of the value chain in the global market place, and create jobs for the teeming masses of Ghanaians, particularly the youth.”
He pointed out that, the discussions also focused on boosting further political, cultural, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation at the multilateral level and on the need to promote a better world by addressing global issues relating to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Towards this end, “we have noted with satisfaction the value that the Ghana-Portugal Business Forum scheduled to be held tomorrow will add to our investment initiatives, he said.”
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has called on the developed world, especially Portugal, to assist Ghana to turn back on its old economy which is dependent on the production, export of raw materials and aid.
He said Ghana wanted to build a value-added and industrialised economy with modernised agriculture, which was neither a victim nor a pawn of the world economic order.
The President added that his country also wanted its relations with Portugal and the rest of the world to be characterised by an increase in trade and investment co-operation.
President Akufo-Addo made the call when he and his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, signed bilateral instruments of cooperation in the areas of defence, political consultation and trade in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
President Akufo-Addo said the latest engagement would go a long way to strengthen the ties of friendship and the bonds of cooperation between Ghana and Portugal.
He added that that was the way to develop healthy relations between the two countries, and put Ghana at the high end of the value chain in the global market place.
The Ghanaian Times reports that more than 1000 of the 2016 Cell Sites being constructed across the country by the government to improve internet penetration to bridge the digital divide have been completed, Minister of Commu­nications, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has stated.
She said 476 of the Cell Sites had been connected and the beneficiary communities now had access to internet and commu­nication services, adding that the project would connect about 4 million people in the underserved communities with internet.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful stated this at the 2023 Gha­na Internet Governance Forum on the theme; ‘Build­ing a Secure and Sustain­able Digital Future,’ the Cell Sites project started in November 2020, as part of efforts by her ministry to bridge the digi­tal divide and bring internet access to the doorstep of the citizens.
Organised by the Ghana Do­main Name Registry (GDNR) and the Ghana Internet Governance Internet Forum, it was attended by some Members of Parliament, representatives of government agencies, the private sector, stu­dents and the general public.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful explained that 1010 out of the 2016 cell sites had been completed, and the remaining was expected to be completed before the end of next year.
The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation pledged the government’s commitment to initiating policies and projects to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion.
“The implementation of our digital agenda required collaborated engagements with stake-holders including civil society organisations, businesses, internet service providers and the general public to provide a platform for guidance and ensuring systems were standardised in ensuring they withstand attacks,” she stated.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful commended the organisers of the programme and expressed the hope that they would come out with suggestions to help deepen internet penetration in the country.
The Chairman of the Ghana Internet Governance Forum and Executive Director of the GDNR, Mr Nana Kofi Asafu-Aidoo, said the programme formed part of preparations towards the country’s participation in the Global Internet Governance Forum to be held before the end of the year in Kyoto, Japan.
He said the Global Internet Governance Forum would create a platform where countries which have had their local and regional internet governance forum to meet and share ideas.
The newspaper says that the government has released money for the settlement of 50 per cent of debt owed food suppliers of the National Buffer Stock Company, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Brian Acheampong, has told Parliament.
.According to him, the amount will hit the account of the various suppliers today, July 19, 2023.
In a statement to brief parliament yesterday on the recent picketing by the suppliers, Mr Acheampong said all amount owed the suppliers would be cleared by end of August.
“Since 2017, Buffer Stock has done great business with the suppliers to the tune of GH¢2.7 billion. In 2017, it was GH¢81.1 million, in 2018, GH¢296 million, in 2019, GH¢431 million, in 2020 GH¢467million, 2021 GH¢692 million and in 2022 GH¢726 million. Buffer Stock has made payments since it started in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 in full,” Mr Acheampong said.
“Last week, we received GH¢¬100million, which is 50 per cent of what is due to the suppliers and we have supplied the same to the Buffer Stock. We are hoping that by midweek this week 50 per cent will be sent to suppliers. I have also assured you that by the 17th of August, the remaining 50 per cent will be paid.
“We will commence payment, hopefully (today) and in a month’s time, total payments would be made,” the minister said.
Mr Acheampong was summoned by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, a fortnight ago to brief the House on the situation, following the sustained picketing by the suppliers.
They spent four nights at the company’s offices over the GH¢270 million government indebtedness to them.
Government, the minister said, was shocked at the mode the suppliers used to demand their money.
“We don’t have challenges with the suppliers so we are extremely surprised about the happenings in the last two weeks. We have taken it in good faith and will continue to work with them,” he assured.
GIK/APA