Negotiations ongoing to finalise deal between Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire in the area of energy resources devt

On October 18, 2024, 10:39 AM

Negotiations are ongoing for finalising and signing at a later date for cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic Ghana and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, in the area of energy resources development.

This came to light when, in the context of bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was invited by H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, to attend the inaugural Summit of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, which was held in Abidjan from 8th to 11th October, 2024.

The two Presidents together led the Heads of State Conference on 11th October, 2024, which focused on critical areas such as defence and security, cocoa and cashew economy, economic policies and regional and international affairs.

Additionally, discussions encompassed other areas of cooperation such as animal, fisheries and aqua culture resources, cross-border land and maritime cooperation, mining and energy, environment, economy, trade and industry, transport, road equipment and maintenance.

The Minister for Foreign Affair and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and her Ivorian counterpart, Léon Kacou ADOM co-chaired a Joint Implementation and Monitoring Committee Meeting on 10th October, 2024, which was preceded by a Joint Technical Committee Meeting from 8th to 9th October, 2024, co-chaired by the Coordinating Director, Political and Economic, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Jennifer Lartey and her Ivorian counterpart.

The underlisted legal instruments were considered and ready for signing at a later date: ·

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ghana Revenue Authority of the Republic of Ghana,and the Directorate General of Customs of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, on Mutual Assistance in Custom Matters; · Framework for Cooperation in Agriculture between the Government of Ghana and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire; and Military Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.

Discussions were also held between the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and the Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) on the need to accelerate the adoption of the common currency, the Eco, for West Africa.