Ghana and UK are equal partners – High Commissioner

The relationship between Ghana and the UK has been described as a relationship of equals.

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Peter Jones  says Ghana and the UK matter to each other, “we are two equal countries. The two countries have equal importance and equal status,” he says, adding that “relationship between Ghana and the UK is excellent.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ghanabusinessnews.com, he noted that ” there is an awful lot of substance to the relationship between Ghana and the UK.”

“There are so many spheres of activities where we have an awful lot to do and we have excellent relationships with our Ghanaian partners, whether that’s about connections between our two governments, between political leaders, the commercial field, and a whole range of practical cooperation that we do,” he says.

He said there is a British Police Liaison officer here in Ghana working with the Ghana Police Service to develop community policing.

“I can only see the relationship getting stronger in the future,” he said.

He indicated that in trade and business, companies in both countries are doing well. He cited Tullow Oil and Vodafone as examples of British companies doing well in Ghana.

He said the about half a million Ghanaians living in the UK are making significant contributions to the UK’s economy. “I’d say that it’s a contribution not just of statistics but of quality as well because there are some people in leading positions who make contributions to the UK .”

There are some notable leading Ghanaian entrepreneurs in various aspects of UK life, in fashion and some working with financial institutions in the city of London, he said.

Asked how the contributions of Ghanaians in the UK have influenced the views of the average British about Ghana, he responded that football makes a major contribution to a wider audience in the UK.

“With regards to people who watch football, they know that Ghana is a rising power in football. That’s a fact if you look at the recent World Cup. And we have a number of Ghanaians who play in the Premiership, like Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan among others.”

Answering questions on development assistance to Ghana, High Commissioner Jones said, assistance will now focus on the North of the country where development need is the greatest.

He said support will target health and education, creating 160,000 school places, 40,000 teacher training places, and hanging four million more anti-malaria bed nets.

“This shows the UK’s increasing commitment to Ghana,” he said.

He also said assistance will be given to sports for girls and women.

“We have this paradox of an economy here in Ghana which in many ways is flourishing and some of the growth figures are tremendously encouraging, but there are parts of the country, areas of society where it’s not percolating through.” Peter Jones.

Commenting on the Ghanaian economy, he said, “we have this paradox of an economy here in Ghana which in many ways is flourishing and some of the growth figures are tremendously encouraging, but there are parts of the country, areas of society where it’s not percolating through.”

“So what we are trying to do here in our development programme is to help bridge the gap, help ease the transition before the real motor of the economy takes off and can deliver prosperity to a wider range of people,” he said.

“In the long term however, we will be expecting Ghana  to move from aid to trade, and I think that’s what the Ghanaian government will like as well. It’s so much better to be able to sustain your own growth, your own development rather than to be looking to the outside world.” Peter Jones.

On Ghana’s dependence on aid, Mr. Jones says, “in the long term however, we will be expecting Ghana  to move from aid to trade, and I think that’s what the Ghanaian government will like as well. It’s so much better to be able to sustain your own growth, your own development rather than to be looking to the outside world.”

In his view however, development assistance to Ghana is an investment in success. “We see this as investing in success. We are in a good environment. We see that the development work that we have done in Ghana has been very productive, it is worthwhile. We are in a good environment in terms of the political and economic contexts and stability,” he said.

He said the British government will double development assistance to Ghana in the next four years.

“You will see this strong commitment in the next four years,” he says.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi