By Benjamin A. Commey, GNA
Accra, July 2, GNA – Ghana has signed an agreement to establish cooperation in science, technology and innovation with Turkey.
The pact is to serve as a legal framework for achieving the scientific and technological ambitions of the two countries.
The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).
Mrs. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister of MESTI, signed the pact on behalf of Ghana, while Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President, TUBITAK, signed on behalf of Türkiye, in a short ceremony, in Accra on Tuesday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Hayford hailed the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
Diplomatic relations between Ghana and Turkey were established in 1958 following Ghana’s independence in 1957.
Since then, the two countries continue to have close and cordial relations as development partners and cooperate in various fields such as education, energy, health and trade.
Ms Hayford said the signing of the protocol would further strengthen the bond of friendship between the two nations through cooperation in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
“This ceremony marks a new path between our two countries in scientific cooperation, especially in various cutting-edge technologies and the breakdown of innovations,” said the Minister.
She added that: “I am therefore pleased that we have started, as soon as possible under this protocol, to engage, plan and agree on concrete actionable activities within this semester.”
He assured the partners of the Ministry’s commitment to immediately implement the protocol to ensure that the country reaps its full benefits.
Prof. Mandal noted that Ghana and Turkey have, over the years, enjoyed good trade relations, indicating that Ghana was Turkey’s second largest trading partner in Africa.
However, he explained that the types of negotiated items were in the light, noting that the signing of the agreement made the friendship a step towards a more science and technology oriented partnership.
“We have already worked with CSIR and this agreement will take a step forward with the same respect,” he stressed.
He expressed his commitment to ensure the full implementation of the agreement for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
“We will now look at the action, the implementation. I think this is the most difficult part, the most important part because signing the document shows our interest, to classify our commitment, but the action becomes more important for our societies and ecosystems,” he said.
Professor Mandal said that Türkiye was working with European countries on environment and climate change as well as ecosystem change, indicating that it provided enough platform for them to learn from each other.
“So I’m sure we can learn from you and share our experience,” he added.
Present at the signing ceremony were Mr. Huseyin Gungor, Ambassador of Turkey to Ghana and Rev. Dr. Patrick Nomo, Director of MESTI.
GNA