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Ghana, Italy sign Defence Co-operation pact … as President receives Italian Premier

In the wake of the rising incidents of terrorism in the West African Region, the government of Italy has agreed to provide defence assistance to prevent the menace from spreading to Ghana. 

Consequently, Italy and Ghana signed a Bilateral Defence Co-operation Agreement yesterday when the Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, visited President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.

President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that the defence agreement would help enhance Ghana’s security, especially in the wake of the rising menace of terrorism spreading within the region. 

He spoke of Jihadists operations in the Sahelian Region, northern Nigeria, Mali, and Niger, pointing that although their activities have not yet spread to the southern part of the region, it was imperative to fight them off. 

At the moment, he said terrorism has not spread to Ghana yet but added that it is imperative to build strong defence mechanisms to fight violent extremism in the region. 

He celebrated the cordial relations between Italy and Ghana, indicating that Italians and Italian companies have, over the years, been part of the country’s social fabric and development. 

“We are looking to continue the excellent relations,” he said and expressed the commitment to explore new opportunities to expand the relations to new frontiers.

President Akufo-Addo also spoke of the Okoafo Project in Dormaa in the Brong Region which is expected to focus on the cultivation of corn, cocoa and cashew, among others.

The project is expected to promote techniques such as net-greenhouses for tomatoes, therefore contributing to agricultural diversification. 

Mr Conte, on his part, underscored the importance of the Okoafo project to the country’s agricultural and industrial sectors. 

He was confident that the project would, to a large extent, benefit Ghanaian farmers and entrepreneurs.

BY YAW KYEI

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