The Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Roey Gilad, has reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s economic growth through technology transfer, innovation, education and agricultural development.

Speaking in an interview on Class 91.3 FM with host Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang, Ambassador Gilad highlighted the strong and historic ties between Ghana and Israel, describing the relationship as one that has endured for decades and continues to grow.

According to him, diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 1956, a year before Ghana attained independence, with Israel opening an office in the country that later became an embassy in 1957.

“Since then, relations between Israel and Ghana have remained stable under different governments in both countries,” he said.

The ambassador noted that although the Israeli Embassy in Accra also oversees relations with Liberia and Sierra Leone, Ghana remains a key partner due to its regional significance and the depth of bilateral cooperation.

He explained that the relationship between the two nations goes beyond official diplomatic engagements and is strengthened by strong people-to-people connections.

Ambassador Gilad stated that agriculture has traditionally been the cornerstone of cooperation between Ghana and Israel, but stressed that both countries are now exploring opportunities in emerging sectors such as cybersecurity, financial technology and innovation.

He said Israel is closely monitoring Ghana’s economic progress and is encouraged by the country's strong economic performance, including the more than six percent GDP growth recorded in the first quarter of 2026.

“We are following Ghana’s economy very closely and are happy to see the achievements being made. We would like to be part of Ghana’s success story and contribute to its development,” he said.

Touching on agriculture, the ambassador identified irrigation systems, greenhouse technology, food security and post-harvest management as areas where Israel possesses considerable expertise and can support Ghana’s agricultural transformation.

He also announced the revival of the Agro-Studies Programme, an agricultural training initiative that offers Ghanaian students the opportunity to gain practical and academic experience in Israel.

According to him, the programme, which had been suspended for a year due to various challenges, will resume this year with a pilot group of 50 Ghanaian students.

The students will spend 11 months in Israel as part of their four-year agricultural studies, combining classroom learning with hands-on training.

Ambassador Gilad revealed that before the suspension, about 200 Ghanaian students participated in the programme annually and expressed hope that the number would increase again if the pilot phase proves successful.

He said graduates of the programme return to Ghana equipped with modern agricultural knowledge and skills that can contribute to increased productivity and innovation within the sector