Luanda: The diplomat was speaking to the press after being formally sworn into office by the President of the Republic, Joo Louren§o. Rui Xavier, who held the same position in South Africa until his appointment, highlighted Ghana's important role in West Africa and assured that he intends to face the challenges of his new role "in a safe and consistent manner," strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
According to Angola Press News Agency, among the priority areas, Rui Xavier highlighted agriculture, with a focus on cocoa, a sector in which Ghana is a continental leader, and mining, particularly gold mining, noting that, in the past, the country "was known as the nation of gold." The diplomat also added the importance of investing in science and technology. "We will work in these and other areas to strengthen and expand our already good cooperation," he stated.
At the same ceremony, Joo Baptista Domingos Quiosa was also sworn in as Angola's Ambassador to South Africa, after serving in the same capacity in the Republic of Ghana. This exchange of ambassadors underscores the ongoing diplomatic engagement between Angola and its African counterparts, aiming to bolster bilateral relations.
Diplomatic relations between Angola and Ghana began with the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement on October 20, 1975, and the subsequent opening of reciprocal diplomatic missions. Formalization took place in 1981, with the opening of the Angolan Embassy in Accra in 2005.
Since then, the two countries have intensified their exchange of high-level visits, including President Joo Louren§o's state visit to Ghana in August 2021 and President Nana Akufo-Addo's visit to Angola in August 2019. Bilateral ties were strengthened with the signing of nine memoranda of understanding during the 6th Session of the Bilateral Cooperation Commission (BCC), held from February 17 to 19, 2024, in Luanda.
Areas of cooperation include transportation, agriculture, oil and gas, higher education, science, technology and innovation, justice and human rights, culture, tourism, diplomacy, and institutional cooperation, as well as exchanges between the National Radio of Angola and the Public Television of Angola with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
