The Government of Ghana is hosting a high-powered delegation led by Sir Louis Straker, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the inaugural Session of the Ghana – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation in Accra from the 12th to the 14th of February 2020.

An earlier historic visit by Dr. Ralph Everard Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who became the first Vincentian Prime Minister to visit Ghana in November 2018 is believed to have set the tone for the establishment of the Joint Commission between both countries who in the course of the two day session will be looking at ways to enhance our economic, political and cultural relations by exploring opportunities that exist for cooperation between the two countries which will result in the mutual benefit of Ghana and the Caribbean country.

Addressing the opening session in Accra on Wednesday, 12 February 2020, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey congratulated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for becoming the smallest nation to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council while adding that Ghana is pleased to have supported your candidature for the Council.

Touching on Ghana’s expectation from the ongoing deliberation of the commission the minister expressed hope that the decisions reached in the course of this bilateral engagement would be followed through and effectively implemented by both sides.

“This inaugural session is particularly targeted at increasing the level of cooperation in key areas of the economy, such as agriculture, aviation, tourism, health and commerce. Among other things, discussions are expected to center on the provision and exchange of technical support in the tourism industry, the establishment of the proposed Africa, Brazil, Caribbean and Diaspora Commission (ABCD Commission) and the production of cocoa and cocoa-related products, as well as root crops, such as yam and cassava.

"We will also explore the possibility of instituting training and exchange programmes in health and scientific research. It is my sincere hope that discussions and conclusions reached in the course of this bilateral engagement would be followed through and effectively implemented by both sides,” she said.

The next meeting of the Joint Commission after the Accra Session is to be held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2022.