By: Nana Achiaa Aboagye
The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire has celebrated its 63rd independence anniversary in Accra. The day commemorates the country’s liberation from France.
Côte d’Ivoire is a country that borders Guinea, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ghana. Before the colonial era, most European contact with the country was for trade in elephant ivory. The country is noted for its cocoa production and produces two million metric tons of cocoa per year, equivalent to more than 40 percent of the world’s market.
There are 78 different languages spoken in Cote d’Ivoire with French being the official language. On July 11, 1960, France agreed to Ivory Coast’s full independence. Consequently, the country became independent on August 7, 1960. Independence leader Felix Houphouet Boigny was elected president of the new republic and remained in power for 33 years until his death in 1993, shielding Côte d’Ivoire from the turmoil of regime transition that characterized the years following independence for the other ex-French states.
The celebration of the Independence Day in Accra by the Ivorian Embassy was to foster unity between the host Country Ghana and find ways of building on cordial relationships.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to Ghana Mr. Assielou Felix Tanon said Ghana and Republic of Côte d’Ivoire are united by historical, geographical, cultural, and blood ties, and the unique cooperation between the two countries was concretized by Strategic Partnership Agreement signed by the two Heads of State on October 17 2017, with a view to strengthening and diversifying Ivorian-Ghanaian relations.
He said the strength of this cooperation is perfectly illustrated by the implementation of the Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana Cocoa Initiative since 2019, which objective is to ensure a better remuneration for producers in the two countries who represent 60% of world production.
At the social level, Mr. Assielou Felix Tanon emphasized that the government continues to implement its program called “Government Social Program”, which has enabled a better redistribution of the fruits of economic growth, through the implementation of projects in several sectors, such as education, health, road infrastructure, social housing, electrification, and drinking water supply, to improve the living conditions of the populations, in particular the most vulnerable in society.
In addition, as the government has declared 2023 the “year of youth”, particular emphasis has been placed on initiatives in favor of young people to increase employment, training and professional integration opportunities for their empowerment.
At the social level, he reiterated that government is continuing to implement its program called “Government Social Program”, which has enabled a better redistribution of the fruits of economic growth, through the implementation of projects in several sectors, such as education, health, road infrastructure, social housing, electrification and drinking water supply to improve the living conditions of the populations, in particular the most vulnerable in society.
Mr. Assielou Felix Tanon said in terms of security, the government places special emphasis on strengthening the operational capacities of the Defense and Security Forces at the country’s borders. Very concerned about the security of the people, the Ivorian Government has adhered to the idea of creating the Accra Initiative, which is a cooperative and collaborative security mechanism launched in 2017 under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Ghana H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akugo-Addo with his peers from Burkina Faso, Togo, and Niger.
He said the initiative aims to prevent an overflow of terrorism from the Sahel and to fight against transnational organized crime in the common cross-border areas of the Member States. I can reassure you that the safety index has gone from 3.6 in 2012 to 1.39 in 2022.
He expressed his appreciation to the Ghanaian authorities who have accepted, within the framework of the various agreements, to receive our brother’s ex-refugees, who have decided to settle permanently in Ghana.
The Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Benito Owusu Bio mentioned that brotherly relations between our two countries have over the years, been anchored on shared values and mutual respect as well as our commitment to democracy, good and accountable governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Our longstanding bonds of kinship and friendship have also been characterized by a common vision to improve the well-being of our peoples, whose welfare continues to be protected and promoted.
He reiterated the need for Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to continue to work together to exercise better control not only over the international price of cocoa but other cash crops.
Mr Benito Owusu Bio said government is committed to working closely with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to further strengthen our cooperation in all fields, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels, with the view to promoting economic and social cohesion which are anchored on mutual respect, respect for the rule of law and human rights, and the maintenance of peace and stability.
Relations between the two countries have over the years, been anchored on shared values and mutual respect, as well as commitments to democracy, good and accountable governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Côte d’Ivoire won the bid to host the 34th Edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). One of the side attractions in Cote D’Ivoire is the Basilica of our lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the largest cathedral in the world with an exterior area of 30,000 square metres.
