– Sweden has inaugurated a new Honorary Consulate General in Accra, with a focus on deepening bilateral relations and economic cooperation between Sweden and Ghana.
The Honorary Consul General, Ms Nickie Akosa, who is of both Swedish and Ghanaian descent, will represent Sweden in Ghana and facilitate official engagements between the two countries.
At an opening ceremony in Accra, Mr Carl-Michael Gräns, the Ambassador of Sweden to Ghana, who is based in Abuja, Nigeria, handed over the official certificate, signed by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs and His Royal Majesty, the King of Sweden, to Ms Akosa.
Mr Gräns said Sweden considered it important to be “well represented” in Ghana particularly at a time when the country was hosting the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
He said the Ghanaian market “is one of the most important one” for Swedish export to, and import from, West Africa, adding that Swedish companies present in Ghana ranged from heavy industry to tech start-ups.
“We want to be present on this market. We have energy, the green transformation which is very important, and sustainable urbanisation. We talk about building smart cities, and the environment to be friendly. There are a lot of things to do together,” he told journalists.
Mr Gräns said he was hopeful that the AfCFTA would enhance trade in Africa.
“West Africa intra-trade is 16 per cent. When you compare that to the EU, it is more than 70 per cent, so I think there is a lot to do and we think it will give economic growth in many years to come,” he said.
Mr Gräns said the new Swedish Honorary Consul General in Accra would facilitate economic cooperation, political dialogue, and cultural exchange and help Swedish business in Ghana to do business with Ghanaians.
Ms Akosa described her appointment as “a special thing” and thanked Mr Gräns for entrusting her with the responsibility and privilege to represent Sweden in Ghana.
She pledged to work with all stakeholders in Sweden and Ghana to promote trade relations between the two countries.
“It’s a special thing at the personal level being that I am both Swedish and Ghanaian descent and I have always been deeply rooted in the cultures of both countries, so this is really such a great honour for me,” she said.
Source: Ghana News Agency