Ghana Agrees to Provide Equatorial Guinea With Assistance to Develop Cocoa Production
By Shout-Africa Correspondent – MALABO,Equatorial Guinea – Equatorial Guinea’s (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo concluded his visit to the Republic of Ghana where he met with President John Evans Atta Mills to discuss cooperation and assistance to develop the Equatorial Guinea’s agricultural sector. This visit follows President Obiang’s recent trip to China and Korea where he signed cooperation agreements and courted business leaders about investment opportunities in his country.
During his visit to Ghana, President Obiang reinforced the country’s message of peace, solidarity and teamwork “in order for our two states to achieve development goals.” Both states share common interests in the Gulf of Guinea and the reciprocal exchange of goods and materials. President Obiang referred to the need for both countries to work together to maintain peace and security in the world.
The two delegations signed a joint statement that sets out several agreements in various sectors such as agriculture, education, promotion of women, fisheries, transport and hydrocarbons.
President Obiang also recalled that Ghana and Equatorial Guinea are two countries linked from colonial times to the point that the seeds of cacao – the product that is now one of the main resources of Ghana – were brought from Equatorial Guinea. President Obiang visited places of interest in Accra, such as the Institute for Research and Transformation of Cocoa and Coffee.
As part of the effort to promote development of and investment in the agricultural sector, Minister of State for Agriculture and Forestry, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue recently gave instructions to create efficiencies throughout all departments of the country’s Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry.
Before departing Ghana, President Obiang visited the embassy of Equatorial Guinea, where he held a meeting with Equatorial Guinean students studying in different colleges and universities in Ghana. During the visit, a representative of the group of students voiced their concerns and challenges they are experiencing. President Obiang advised them to “avoid bad habits that can alter your path and destroy your mind. You must be useful in helping to defend the country and to be helpful for the future.” President Obiang offered the group of students a sum of 50,000 euros to help cover their needs during their stay in Ghana.
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country’s oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country will host the 2011 Summit of the African Union.
