Ghana and Italy have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two nations, exploring mutual interests for the benefit of their respective populations.
This took place on July 21, 2023 after President Akufo-Addo‘s official 4-day visit to Italy, where he held bilateral discussions with President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.
President Mattarella praised Ghana’s adherence to democracy, good governance, and the rule of law, making Ghana a beacon of stability in West Africa and Africa as a whole.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted the longstanding strong relations between Ghana and Italy, citing successful Italian companies operating in Ghana, such as Impregilo, which constructed the Akosombo Dam.
The leaders discussed collaboration in Ghana’s pharmaceutical and agro-based industries, and President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude for Italy’s support in the restructuring of Ghana’s finances through the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments, securing a $3 billion Extended Credit Facility from the IMF.
Both leaders stressed the importance of stability for economic development, and President Mattarella pledged Italy’s support to confront the jihadist threat in the Sahel and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
“We are anxious that the matter of UN Reform be given priority on the global agenda. It is time to correct the longstanding injustice that the current structure and composition of the UN Security Council represent for the nations of Africa. We are encouraged, though, by the attitudes and sentiments of two (2) leaders of the five (5) Permanent Members of the Security Council, that is President Joe Biden of the United States of America and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic. Both of them are the first leaders of their respective countries to call publicly for reform. We look forward to the leaders of the three (3) other Permanent Members also throwing their support behind the reform process,” the Ghanaian President said.
They also emphasized the need for global financial and economic architecture reform to address inequities, with both calling for United Nations Security Council reform, particularly for Africa.
President Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver the keynote address at the 4th ECAM Summit in Rome, discussing healthcare and food safety challenges and opportunities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.