Morocco-Ghana’s shared determination to enhance cooperation ties deals blow to Algerian regime

A high-level parliamentary delegation from Ghana is visiting Morocco to foster parliamentary cooperation ties with the Kingdom and look into ways of boosting trade exchanges and partnership in agriculture,air transportation,education,employment,and sustainable development.

Led by Chairperson of the foreign Affairs Committee Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije,the delegation held on Monday in Rabat separate talks with Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita and Speaker of the House of Representative Rachid Talbi Alami.

The visit comes after Ghana’s decision to withdraw recognition of the Algeria-backed Polisario separatist group,giving a new impetus to relations between Rabat and Accra.

Following his talks with Morocco’s top diplomat,Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije said his visit aims to strengthen parliamentary cooperation between the two countries’ legislative institutions.

He also said he had “fruitful” discussions with Bourita on several subject matters of common interests as well as on latest regional and international developments.

Okoe Vanderpuije and accompanying delegation met the same day with Speaker of the House of Representatives who thanked Ghana for its supportive stand with Morocco’s territorial integrity.

Talks focused on Morocco’s African solidarity-based cooperation spearheaded by King Mohammed VI,citing in this regard Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project,the African Atlantic Initiative,and the initiative aimed at enabling Sahel countries to access the Atlantic Ocean.

In January 2023,Rabat and Accra signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and combat tax evasion. Ghana is one of Morocco’s key trading partners within ECOWAS. Moroccan exports to Ghana have grown at an average annual rate of 14% over the past 20 years,increasing from approximately $5 million in 1995 to $133 million in 2021.

Major Moroccan exports include raw sugar,processed and frozen fish,while Ghana exports tropical fruits,cocoa powder,and bran to Morocco.

Investments of the North African Kingdom are also gaining momentum. Moroccan companies such as BMCE Bank,CIMAF (cement manufacturer),Addoha (real estate group),and OCP (fertilizer giant) have established a solid presence in Ghana. In 2023,the Moroccan furniture company KITEA opened its first store in Accra,supporting this growing investment trend.