A high-level delegation from the Vanuatu Trade Commission Ghana, led by H.E. Amb. Prof. Hugh Keku Aryee, paid a courtesy visit to the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, at her office in Cantonments, Accra, on the morning of Wednesday, January 22, 2024.
The visit was a platform for strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and the Republic of Vanuatu, with discussions focused on trade, innovation, and shared development opportunities.
In her opening remarks, H.E. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the shared membership of Ghana and Vanuatu in multilateral organizations such as the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations. She expressed her enthusiasm for exploring collaborative avenues mutually benefiting the two countries.
H.E. Amb. Prof. Hugh Keku Aryee extended warm regards and congratulatory words from the President and people of Vanuatu to the Vice President on her assumption of office. He briefed her on establishing the Vanuatu Trade Commission Ghana in January 2023, marking a significant milestone as the first Ghanaian appointee to that designation.
Highlighting the potential of Vanuatu, H.E. Amb. Prof. Aryee elaborated on its achievements despite being a small island nation in areas such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries and its kava products. He also shared insights on the partnership between the Vanuatu Trade Commission Ghana and the African Diaspora Central Bank (ADCB) to promote the AKL Lumi currency, emphasizing the digital version’s circulation through the AI Africa Training Project. The project offers the AKL Lumi as a stimulus to participants
undergoing AI training.
The meeting also explored Ghana’s readiness to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to keep pace with the 4th Industrial Revolution. H.E. Amb. Prof. Aryee shared insights on the broader acceptance of the AKL Lumi across various regions, emphasizing Zambia’s recognition of the currency by the Central Bank of Zambia.
He also briefed the Vice President of the IPADA Initiative, led by Nigeria’s President, aimed at reconnecting Africans in the diaspora. The ADCB’s sponsorship of cruise ship manufacturing in Nigeria using the AKL Lumi was also discussed. Furthermore, he informed the Vice President of the presentation of documents to the Bank of Ghana by the Africa Diaspora Central Bank (ADCB) for review towards its adoption in Ghana.
In her response, the Vice President described the meeting as insightful and pledged to engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advance the discussions. She emphasized the need for Ghana to strategically position itself in the AI evolution and prepare for future technological revolutions. She assured the delegation of her support in leveraging AI for national development, stressing the importance of prioritizing and addressing areas of deficiency.
Dr. David King Boison, a Marine and Port Expert and Lead Consultant for the AI Africa Training Project, provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s objective to position Africa as a leader in the 4th Industrial Revolution. He dispelled misconceptions about AI replacing jobs, emphasizing instead its potential to create three times as many employment opportunities.
He urged the Ghanaian government to focus on AI as a key enabler for achieving its 24-hour economy agenda. The delegation presented a customized picture frame from the Vanuatu Trade Commission Ghana to the Vice President as a token of goodwill and to cement the relationship between the two nations.
H.E. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang expressed her gratitude for the gesture and commended the delegation for the productive engagement had.
The meeting marked a significant step in strengthening ties between Ghana and Vanuatu, fostering collaboration in technology, trade, and economic development.
