Ghana and Pakistan on Monday signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in Accra to strengthen bilateral political cooperation and enhance institutional collaboration in diplomatic training.
That marks a new phase in relations between the two countries.
The signing of the MoUs aims at strengthening diplomatic cooperation between Ghana and Pakistan.
The MoUs, signed in Accra, cover bilateral political consultations between the two governments and institutional cooperation between Ghana’s Foreign Service Institute and Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy.
The signing ceremony coincided with the maiden session of the Ghana-Pakistan Political Consultations, seeking to provide a structured platform for sustained dialogue on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, in her remarks, said the signing of the two MoUs represented a historic milestone in Ghana-Pakistan relations and reflected the shared commitment of both countries to elevate cooperation beyond goodwill to practical and institutional engagement.
She said the agreement on bilateral political consultations would institutionalise regular dialogue between Accra and Islamabad, allowing both sides to coordinate positions, exchange views on global developments and strengthen mutual understanding in an increasingly complex international environment.
Ambassador Iddrisu described the MoU between the Foreign Service Institute in Accra and the Foreign Service Academy in Islamabad as particularly significant.
He noted that it would foster collaboration in training, capacity building and professional exchanges between diplomats of the two countries.
“As a career Foreign Service Officer, I am excited about the relations being forged between our two diplomatic training institutions. This cooperation will help build the capacity of our diplomats and strengthen the foundations of our bilateral engagement,” she said.
She added that Ghana was keen to broaden cooperation with Pakistan into areas such as defence, digital innovation, education, agriculture, public health, environment, peace and security, as well as people-to-people exchanges, in line with the evolving global order and shared development aspirations.
Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman, Acting Chief Director in charge of Political and Economic Affairs at the Ministry, traced the long-standing relations between Ghana and Pakistan to the establishment of diplomatic ties on September 1, 1958, and described the MoUs as a continuation of decades of friendship and cooperation.
He recalled historic high-level engagements, including a landmark meeting between the leaders of the two countries at Marlborough House during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in 1965, which he said laid the foundation for enduring bilateral relations based on mutual respect and shared values.
Ambassador Agyeman noted that the MoU on political consultations would provide a predictable framework for engagement at a time when global diplomacy was being tested by geopolitical tensions and shifting norms.
He said Ghana welcomed the re-establishment of Pakistan’s High Commission in Accra in June 2022 and expressed optimism that Ghana would, in due course, reciprocate with a resident mission in Islamabad, further strengthening diplomatic presence and engagement.
On his part, Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan said the signing of the two MoUs demonstrated Pakistan’s renewed commitment to deepening relations with Ghana and West Africa as part of its broader “Engage Africa” policy.
He said the MoU on political consultations would enable both countries to maintain regular, structured engagement and explore new areas of cooperation, while the agreement between the two foreign service institutions would help build long-term professional linkages.
“This visit marks an important milestone in our bilateral relations, and with the signing of these MoUs, we are laying a strong foundation for a deeper and more enduring partnership between our two brotherly countries,” Ambassador Khan said.
He highlighted the historical bonds between Pakistan and African countries, noting Pakistan’s support for African liberation movements in the 1950s and 1960s and its longstanding contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations, many of which have been in Africa.
Ambassador Khan said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Ghana, describing the country as a key partner in the West African sub-region, and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to expanding cooperation in diplomacy, trade, education, defence and people-to-people relations.
The first session of the Ghana-Pakistan Political Consultations, which followed the signing ceremony, is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including political cooperation, defence and security, visa and migration matters, education and cultural exchange, economic and technical cooperation, as well as collaboration in regional, international and multilateral fora.
The two MoUs are expected to transform the long-standing cordial relations between Ghana and Pakistan into tangible outcomes that advance mutual interests and contribute to peace, development and prosperity for the peoples of both countries.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com