Industrial city of Tema signs agreement with Israel for development
The State of Israel and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) have signed an agreement for mutually beneficial bilateral collaboration to enhance development in Ghana’s industrial hub.
The Israeli government, led by its Ambassador, Ami Mehl assented to an agreement that would strengthen collaborative efforts by Israel and the city of Tema.
The Israeli Ambassador who paid a courtesy call on Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Tema, was there to acquaint himself with the Municipality and to find avenues of common interest.
He interacted with heads of department, chairpersons of various sub-committees and unit heads, to know at first hand, their operations.
This year, the TMA was adjudged the best district in Ghana by the Ghana District League Table compiled by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development.
Mr Mehl said his visit to the district would not only renew diplomatic ties between his country and Tema, but open doors of opportunities for both parties for development.
He expressed readiness of possible joint cooperation to help develop technology and place Tema as a technological hub, saying: “There are a lot of possibilities for collaboration, and sharing of knowledge would be advanced for the greater good of Israel and Ghana.”
The MCE, after a close door session with the ambassador, said the world had moved from grants and aids to more of cooperation, which demands partnership for mutual benefit.
For this reason, he said the approach for development is welcomed as it would inure to the ultimate benefit of Tema and the country as a whole.
He said already, through a partnership between Israel and the TMA in the area of education, two staff of the assembly have in recent past benefited from exchange programmes.
Mr Ashai Odamtten indicated that with the kind of development Tema envisions, Israel could play a vital role since an Israeli company is at the centre in the development of Tema, described by many as the most planned city in West Africa.
“Our security and surveillance programme, waste management – especially waste water treatment programme – and governance, would be given a significant boost with this partnership,” he said.
He said both parties have expressed the desire to join together as partners in development to establish and maintain ties between them and promote development through exchanges in business, governmental, health, education, culture among others.
The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana also paid a courtesy call on the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku II at his palace.
Source: GNA