Spanish ambassador calls on Speaker Bagbin
22-09-2022
The Ambassador of Spain to Ghana, His Excellency Javier Gutierrez today called on Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin at Parliament in Accra. The visit was to re-enforce relations between the two countries, particularly bilateral relations between members of both parliaments, to promote close collaboration with Civil Society Organisations and to foster cultural exchanges in the areas of education, renewable energy, trade and investments, sports, arts and cultureand security.
Ambassador Gutierrez said Ghana and Spain established diplomatic relations in 1986 when the Spanish Ambassador in Liberia was concurrently accredited to Ghana, whiles Ghana’s Ambassador to France was concurrently accredited to Spain in 1973.
Spain established a resident diplomatic Mission in Accra 1989 and in 2004, Ghana established a Mission in Madrid. Bilateral relations between the two countries have been deepened progressively following the establishment of Ghana’s diplomatic presence in the country.
Trade between the two countries has been growing steadily since 2013 with the balance of trade skewed in Spain’s favor. The principal exports from Ghana to Spain are aluminum, fish, sea food products, timber and semi-processed wood products, cocoa butter, manganese, and fruit juice concentrate. However, major Spanish exports to Ghana are edible oil products, optical instruments, ceramic tiles, electrical equipment, mining explosives, wine, and cosmetic products.
Ambassador Gutierrez disclosed that cultural relations have hinged on the awards of Spanish Government scholarships to Ghanaian for higher studies in Spanish institutions. As mark of her decision to strengthen bilateral relations with Ghana, Spain has been offering scholarships to Ghanaian students to pursue studies predominantly in Spanish language courses in Universities in Spain and also sponsoring courses for the Ghana Army.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin assured Ambassador Gutierrez of Ghana’s commitment to deepen bilateral relations with Spain in areas of education, tourism and culture.
Speaker Bagbin hinted stressed the need to create more opportunities for women to participate in politics, adding that there was a need for women Parliamentarians to collaborate with their colleagues from other Parliaments, adding that members of the Women Caucus in parliament will join their counterparts in Spain for knowledge exchange programmes.
Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Majority Leader, said both countries could deepen their friendship through exchanges in exports/imports and tourism to boost the economy of the two countries.
