Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation with Italy, emphasizing that all international partnerships must strictly align with the nation’s long-term development priorities.
The Vice President made the declaration following a high-level bilateral meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Laura Ranalli, at her office in Accra. The discussions focused on expanding collaborative efforts in agriculture, digital development, technical and vocational education, healthcare, and water treatment.
A central theme of the dialogue was the implementation of Italy’s flagship Mattei Plan for Africa. Expressing optimism about the progress made under the scheme, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that interventions in agriculture and skills training must guarantee meaningful local participation while directly addressing the structural needs of the domestic economy.
She specifically cited the ongoing model farm project at Aveyime as a transformative initiative capable of boosting agricultural productivity and expanding local technical capacity. She noted that the true value of such investments lies in their capacity to create sustainable opportunities for the Ghanaian people.
Highlighting additional avenues for cooperation, the Vice President pointed to urgent national requirements in healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, healthcare workforce training, and water treatment facilities. She called for an integrated development strategy, arguing that sustainable growth can only be achieved when cross-sectoral investments reinforce one another.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang further positioned Ghana as a strategic hub for Italian business operations across the continent, reminding the diplomatic delegation that host status for the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat presents investors with direct access to wider African markets.
Concluding the meeting, the Vice President expressed appreciation for Ambassador Ranalli’s visit and reiterated Ghana’s readiness to forge stronger bilateral ties with Italy grounded in mutual respect, shared prosperity, and long-term sustainability.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana