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On March 21, 1990, Namibia gained its independence. On that day, the founding president and father of the nation of Namibia, Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, declared: “I move on behalf of the people that Namibia is forever free, sovereign and independent.”
On the road to independence for Namibia, Africa and the successive governments and peoples of Ghana walked side by side with the peoples of then South West Africa.
Ghana truly lived up to the spirit of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s insightful and visionary statement that “Ghana’s independence is meaningless unless linked to the total liberation of Africa.”
Subsequently, in the then Organization of African Unity, the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations, the Commonwealth, etc., Ghana constantly raised its voice in favor of the decolonization of Africa and in support of the independence of Namibia.
In addition, the sister people of Ghana opened their hearts and homes to hundreds of young Namibians who received secondary education in preparation for leading a free and independent Namibia. Today, these professionals play a vital role in the socio-economic development of Namibia.
During the transition to independence, Ghana relied on a contingent of police from the United Nations Transitional Group (UNTAG).
Therefore, every year on March 21, when Namibia celebrates its independence, it is primarily in remembrance of the brave sons and daughters of Namibia who paid the ultimate sacrifice, as well as their friends around the world, particularly Ghana, for having stood unswervingly with the people of Namibia to the end.
Namibia-Ghana bilateral relations
Diplomatic relations between Namibia and Ghana were established shortly after independence, on March 21, 1990, and remain excellent.
Namibia opened a Diplomatic Mission in Accra in 2014.
In order to further consolidate bilateral relations, high-level visits at the state and ministerial levels continue to be exchanged.
The last such visit to Ghana, albeit on a sad occasion, was in 2019, by His Excellency Dr. Hage Godfrey Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, in the presence of the final expulsion of one of the sons of the land from Ghana, Kofi. Annan.
Namibia – Ghana bilateral cooperation
Namibia’s cooperation with Ghana is based on the premise that our two countries will become stronger and more prosperous when we combine efforts to address common challenges and seize shared opportunities for mutual benefit.
Eager to pursue common development aspirations, the two countries signed a General Cooperation Framework Agreement that includes the establishment of the Permanent Joint Cooperation Commission (PJCC).
The PJCC serves as a platform for conducting bilateral relations and identifying and seeking bilateral cooperation.
Currently, the cooperation between Namibia and Ghana includes the following sectors:
Agriculture, Environment and Tourism, Trade and Investments, Mining, Energy, Education, Science and Technology, Health, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Infrastructure Development and Maritime.
Beyond bilateral cooperation, our partnership with major international institutions such as the African Union, the United Nations and other major multilateral platforms have also continued to produce mutual benefits.
Person-to-person contacts
While bilateral relations are between governments, it is person-to-person contacts that will drive bilateral cooperation, trade and investment between Namibia and Ghana.
Along the same lines, it is person-to-person contact that will determine “The Africa we want” as contained in the 2063 Agenda of the African Union.
To this end, on December 13, 2017, the Namibia-Ghana Friendship Association was launched. The objective of the Association is to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries, as well as to complement the efforts of the governments in commercial, technical, cultural and educational exchange promotion.
The Association also promotes friendship between students, academics, engineers, scientists, athletes and actors from various sectors.
Membership is open to all persons and entities that share the vision of the Association.
Namibia – Ghana trade relations
Building on existing bilateral cooperation, the two countries also wish to increase bilateral trade in the context of the timely African Continental Free Trade Area, thus boosting our economic recovery and development in the post-Covid era.
Namibia is world renowned for its export of beef and related products, beverages, dates, grapes, fish, salt, and minerals, to name a few.
There are complementarities between the economies of the two countries that the private sector in Namibia and Ghana should take advantage of.
Namibia has a well established fishing industry and is looking to increase the existing volume of its fish and seafood in the Ghanaian market.
Through our Permanent Joint Cooperation Commission, we have recognized that the trade relationship between the two countries could be mutually beneficial, especially in light of the fact that each country could serve as a launching pad for higher volume trade relationships with others. southern and southern countries. West Africa.
Namibia Development Plan: Vision 2030
Determined to progressively improve the living standards of the people of Namibia, the Government of the Republic of Namibia outlined its Development Plan: Vision 2030.
Its aim is to guide Namibia’s deliberate efforts to improve the quality of life of its population to the level of its counterparts in the developed world by 2030.
Vision 2030 was launched in June 2004 by His Excellency Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma and continues to be implemented through five-year National Development Plans. Namibia is currently implementing its Fifth National Development Plan.
In 2005, His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba was sworn in as Second President of Namibia. It continued to pursue Vision 2030 with the implementation of the Third and Fourth National Development Plans.
His Excellency President Hage G. Geingob, who took office on March 21, 2015 for his first term, implemented the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPI) in 2016. HPPI’s goal was to accelerate the implementation of Development Plans National for the timely realization of Vision 2030.
HPP is built on and firmly anchored in Building a Namibian House, where Namibians come together to hold hands and build an inclusive economy with shared growth.
Upon taking office for his second term on March 21, 2020, President Geingob launched the Harambee Prosperity Plan II (HPPII) on March 18, 2021.
The HPPII is a targeted Impact Plan, consisting of prioritized short- and medium-term objectives and strategic actions to continue accelerating national development towards Vision 2030 and Prosperity for All.
HPPII aims to ensure that Namibia is prepared to respond to national socio-economic challenges and global opportunities, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Harambee Prosperity Plan II is based on five (5) pillars, namely:
Pillar 1: Effective governance
Pillar 2: Economic advance
Pillar 3: Social progression
Pillar 4: Infrastructure development
Pillar 5: International Relations and Cooperation.
The International Relations and Cooperation pillar seeks to enhance Namibia’s economic diplomacy and take advantage of the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
In this context, the Namibian High Commission in Ghana invites citizens and the private sector of the two countries to make the most of trade and investment opportunities.
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