The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday presented 50 boxes of date fruits to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Accra.
The donation, presented by Mr Saced Saad Albaker, served as an affirmation of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Ramses Cleland, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, who received the donation, expressed gratitude to the government of Saudi Arabia for their continuous support to Ghana.
According to him, Ghana-Saudi bilateral relations dated back to 1960, when Ghana established a diplomatic presence in the Kingdom and the latter reciprocating later down the line.
He said Ghana has since witnessed an improvement in the bilateral relations, including the increasing number of Ghanaian Muslims embarking on the annual ritual of the Hajj.
“The government of the Republic of Ghana further acknowledges with profound gratitude the significant contributions made by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to vital areas of Ghana’s development, such as education, health, energy, and various donations from individual Saudis towards the building of mosques, schools, orphanages and the provision of safe water in Islamic communities,” he said.
Rooted in the religious teachings of Prophet Mohammed, Mr Cleland said dates had traditionally been recognised as a customary food item in Ramadan and also considered among the fruits of heaven in Islam, and signify vitality and growth.
“Enriched with many vitamins, dates have been proven to promote heart, brain, respiratory and digestive health. All these facts indeed reveal Allah’s infinite knowledge and compassion for human beings.”
“Indeed, by this act of benevolence to Ghanaians, especially the Muslim community, the gesture ties in well with the third pillar of the Islamic faith, which supports the giving of alms and thereby facilitating the thorough observance of the fourth pillar, which is Ramadan,” he said
Mr Cleland was optimistic that the donation of dates by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would continue to serve as a tool to enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG & CHARITY ASUKA
