Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit in Ghana

Ghana is to receive a grant of $6.5 million from the Norwegian government. The money will be used for the protection of the country’s eco-system as well as address other challenges posed by oil exploration.

This was disclosed during the visit of the Crown Prince of Norway to Accra. Prince Haakon is on a three-day visit with the Crown Princess.

Environment Minister Sherry Aryeetey says Ghana will also tap the rich experience of Norway to maximize the benefits of oil exploration.

She said while Ghana greatly appreciated the gesture, “It is our hope that Norway will continue to support us in strengthening the capacity of relevant institutions so that we can also leverage the resources of the oil and gas sector to precipitate accelerated sustainable development of this industry.”

She regretted that although African countries were endowed with abundant natural resources, many of them remained poor, stressing that “We in Ghana are focused on breaking the ironic trend and we are grateful to Norway for the support.”

Norwegian Minister for Environment, Erik Solheim, called for transparency in the distribution of the country’s oil revenue to avoid associated conflicts. He said the country’s political leaders must remember that oil the resource belongs to the people and must therefore serve their supreme interest.

The couple enjoying the local food and dressing style.

Very animated moment at a women police school.

And they even had time for affection. Ohhh...

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[Norway] Crown couple promise oil investments in Ghana

Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has pledged the government’s commitment to emulate the best examples of oil-producing nations to appropriately manage its oil and gas find to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

He said although Ghana was a developing nation, the lessons learnt from oil-producing countries such as Venezuela, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Libya, among others, would guide it to strive to make the resource a blessing and not a curse.

The Vice-President made the promise when the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway and the Norwegian Minister of Environment and Development called on him at the Flagstaff House ahead of the launch of the Ghana-Norway Agreement on Oil for Development.

In October 2007, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) applied for assistance from Norway under its Oil for Development (OfD) programme.

The application was followed up with a call from the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, for Norway to grant Ghana’s request.

Based on the subsequent dialogue and thorough assessment of the scope for co-operation, a decision was made to make Ghana a core co-operation country in the OfD programme.

In February 2008, during the National Forum on Oil and Gas Development in Accra, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway regarding long-term co-operation within the petroleum sector under the OfD.

In December 2010, the governments of Norway and Ghana signed an agreement following a request by Ghana for support to strengthen the resource management of oil and gas in Ghana.

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[Norway] Crown couple off to Ghana

News bureau NTB reports that the royal couple will have a full program during their two-day visit, which runs from April 12-14, just before Norway’s annual Easter holidays set in. Their visit will coincide with a large oil industry conference called Ghana Summit, to be held in the capital of Accra.

Norway and Ghana have bilateral cooperation in several areas, not least in the development of the country’s oil and gas industry. Norway is a partner in the development and management of the country petroleum resources, reported NTB, and Norwegian oil companies have shown “considerable interest” in the country.

In addition to meetings with authorities in Ghana, the couple will meet with UN officials, visit a Norwegian studies center at Cape Coast and visit the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center.

King Harald, meanwhile, was to officially greet Ghana’s new ambassador to Norway, Hajia Fati Habib-Jawula, in a meeting at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Thursday.

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Crown Prince Naruhito Arrives For Four-Day Visit to Ghana

The Crown Prince of Japan, Prince Naruhito, arrived in Accra Sunday for a four-day official visit to Ghana.

The special Japanese airline carrying the Prince and his 30-member delegation touched down at the Kotoka International Airport (Jubilee Lounge) at 4:30 p.m.

Prince Naruhito was met on arrival by the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama; the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chris Kpodoh; Health Minister, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor; Minister of Tourism, Mrs Zita Okaikoi; the Mayor of Accra, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, and other government officials.

Ms Gloria Arkoh, 11, a Class Five pupil of He Cares Academy, Lapaz, presented a bouquet to Prince Naruhito as a symbol of joy on his arrival. There was also drumming and dancing by the Ghana Dance Ensemble of the University of Ghana, Legon.

Prince Naruhito is expected to call on President John Evans Atta Mills at the Castle, Osu, today and the President will later host a lunch in his honour.

The Crown Prince will visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park where he will plant a tree and lay a wreath, after which he will visit the Mary Star of the Sea International School, Kasoa, and the Dr Noguchi Laboratory at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Thereafter, he will meet with Japanese citizens resident in Ghana and former scholarship students. The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Katakami, will host him to a dinner.

On Tuesday, Prince Naruhito will be a special guest at the First Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Memorial Symposium at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. He is expected to lay a wreath at the Japanese Overseas Co-operation Volunteers (JOCV) Monument at the La Cemetery.

His final activity would be to visit Akosombo. Prince Naruhito and his delegation will leave for Japan on Wednesday.

Mr Kpodoh described Prince Naruhito’s visit as very significant, as it would further deepen bilateral ties between Ghana and Japan.

He said, Japan had provided financial assistance for Ghana in support of Ghana’s economy and described the visit as a demonstration of the commitment of the Japanese Government to sustain relations between the two countries.

from graphicghana.com