Ghana’s President to visit Guyana next month

The Guyana Government is preparing to host the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo next month.
This high-level State visit was announced by President David Granger on Wednesday as he accepted the letters of credence from Ghana’s new High Commissioner to Guyana.
In brief remarks, the Guyanese Head of State posited that he had met President Akufo-Addo twice – at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference last year and again this year, in Cuba, where the African leader accepted an invitation to visit Georgetown.
“Guyana prepares to host a State Visit of President Akufo-Addo on 11th-12th June 2019. We are confident that this visit will result in practical measures aimed at enhancing relations and cooperation between our two States, particularly in the fields of agriculture, culture, energy, environment, investment, petroleum production, Private Sector cooperation, tourism and transportation,” President Granger said.
Meanwhile, the newly-accredited Ghanaian High Commissioner, Professor Abena Busia, in her remarks, noted that the two countries, bound by historical relations, could learn from each other as they positioned themselves in the global energy market.
“… I single out the aspirations we both have for cooperation and support as comparative newcomers to the global energy market. We have much to learn from each other, and I hope to count on the support of all stakeholders to create the enabling environment for the promotion of this sector…,” the Ghanaian diplomat stated.
Professor Busia’s accreditation comes as a large high-level Ghanaian delegation is currently in Guyana to engage local stakeholders on areas of mutual interest in the oil and gas sector, among other areas.
The team – which numbers in excess of 15 and is led by Ghana’s Energy Minister and Deputy Minister (Petroleum), Dr Mohammed Amin Adam –met with Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe and other officials from his department on Tuesday.
“I think anybody who says Guyana is not the hottest place to be and I am not speaking about climatologically, but in terms of what we have found thus far in the oil and gas sector would not be lying. It’s a time in which also, we are keen to ensure that as a Department, though young, … we seek as best we can to ensure that these resources are managed in an efficient manner and an effective manner for all of Guyana,” Dr Bynoe said.
The Director of Energy further noted that the Department did not underestimate the momentous task ahead and continued to seek for partnerships to ensure it obtained the best value for the nation.
“We do not pretend to have all the answers to all the challenges that are before us, but we are very much positioned and we are keen to learn from others; the good, the not-so good and even the indifferent experiences, so we do not have to trod the same path which others may have trod before us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Adam posited that he was pleased for the opportunity to discuss issues relative to cooperation with the Energy Department here.
“We are bound by so many factors [that] unite us because as you know, the … formation in your offshore bases is analogous to what we have in Ghana. So, it’s not surprising that Exxon, which is here, has also entered Ghana and so we are united by so many factors and … will be able to leverage that for the benefit of the people of our two countries,” the Ghanaian Minister said.
Oil and gas exploration in Ghana is ongoing, and with the amount of discoveries of both crude oil and natural gas continuing to increase, it was reported last year that the West African nation is set to experience an “oil boom”.
Meanwhile, Guyana is gearing up for the commencement of first oil. US oil giant ExxonMobil is expected to start production early next year having made 13 discoveries thus far offshore Guyana. The estimated recoverable resource from these finds has been pegged at approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels in the Stabroek Block alone.
According to President Granger, it is anticipated that the delegation’s visit will lay a solid foundation for further cooperation between the two States, which are now in their 40th year of bilateral relations.
The Head of State also accepted letters of credence on Wednesday from the new Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Guyana, Julang Pujianto, at the Ministry of the Presidency.