Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
K.D. Knight (left), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrive at the second meeting of the Jamaica/Ghana Joint Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New Kingston, yesterday. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE GHANAIAN Government said it wanted to establish air link services between Jamaica and that country to enhance future bilateral agreements.
The announcement came yesterday as public and private sector representatives of the Jamaican and Ghanaian governments met in Kingston to forge and strengthen new and existing trade pacts.
"We recognise also that trade and cultural links between us would be better enhanced if there are reliable direct air links between our two countries," Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Nana Akufo-Addo, said.
He was speaking at the opening of the second session of the Jamaica/Ghana Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston.
DRAFT AGREEMENT
Mr. Akufo-Addo stated that the urgent need for air link services between Jamaica and Ghana was placed on yesterday's agenda for the negotiators, and that a draft air services agreement was being considered by local and Ghanaian officials.
He added that the decision to reactivate the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation was made in July when Ghanaian president Agyekum Kufuor visited Jamaica.
Speaking at the ceremony, Foreign Affairs Minister K.D. Knight said he was confident that the deliberations between both countries would result in meaningful cooperation in education, tourism, bauxite mining, bilateral trade, investments and air links.
MORE THAN TALK
He cautioned, however, that the discussions should go beyond mere talk.
"The success of your discussions will not be judged merely by the quantum of activities earmarked for collaboration, but rather by the sustainability of the projects identified and their ability to generate
economic development and employment," Mr. Knight said.
He added that Jamaica had already benefited from technical cooperation agreement in health services under which 23 Ghanaian nurses were assigned to Jamaica between 1999 and 2003.
"We are eager to have this renewed," the foreign affairs minister said.
Jamaica and Ghana established diplomatic relations in May 1968.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson signed the Jamaica/Ghana Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation in 1999, but agreements reached under the pact were never implemented because they became dormant.
