Turkey reopens embassy in Accra

THE Republic of Turkey has re-opened its embassy in Accra after it was closed down in 1981.
The embassy in Accra is among the first eight that had so far been opened by the Turkish government in the sub-Saharan Africa since 2005. A total of 15 embassies are expected to be opened in sub-Sahara Africa within the next few years.
This was made known by the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Kenan Tepedelen during a courtesy call on the Managing Director (MD) of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal in Accra today.
Present during the meeting was the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, the Adverts and Business Promotion Manager, Mr Frank Oduro and the Public Affairs Manager, Mr Albert Sam.
The ambassador also visited the Daily Graphic newsroom where he was briefed by the News Editor, Mr Samuel Okaitey.
Mr Tepedelen said his government’s decision to add Ghana to the initial beneficiaries was the fact that Turkey had an existing relationship with Ghana and also the presence of elements of good governance that had prevailed in Ghana for sometime.
He explained that although there was no physical consular structure in Ghana, individual business entities within the two countries had continued to conduct their trading activities over the years.
The ambassador pointed out figures gathered by his government indicated that by the end of 2009, the trade between Ghana and Turkey amounted to US$175 million.
Mr Tepedelen expressed the hope that the figure could double within the next two to three years if the necessary legal framework and infrastructure were instituted at governmental levels for the benefit of both countries.
He said Turkey and Ghana had an economic, commerce and technical framework agreement in 1997 adding that brought about an economic committee meeting in Ankara, Turkey in 1998.
He expressed the hope that with the re-opening an embassy in Accra, a second economic meeting would be help, most probably in Ghana to revive the relationship.
He called for the conclusion of agreement of protection and promotion of investment to enhance trade and also encourage investment.
Mr Tepedelen who said he visited Accra during the African Union (AU) summit in 2007, said Ghana is an important country to Turkey.
He hinted that there were plans to invite a number of Ghanaian journalists to visit Turkey to enable them have first hand information about the country.
Touching Turkey’s relationship with countries on the African continent, he said the country declared 2005, “The Year of Africa” with the focus on assisting African governments in their struggle against lack of food, water supply and effects of natural disasters, poverty, infections and socio-economic problems.
He said the declation was followed with the establishment of its first regional field office in Ethopia, followed by Sudan and Senegal respectively in 2006 and 2007.
For his part, Mr Awal said that the GCGL was prepared to assist in enhancing a mutual relationship between Ghana and Turkey through reporting.
He wished Mr Tepedelen a good stay in Ghana and assured him of the group’s assistance in his work as an ambassador.
Turkey, known officially as the Republic of Turkey is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of south-eastern Europe.
Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the Northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the Northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the Southeast.
The predominant religion in Turkey which has a population of about 73 million, is Islam and its official language is Turkish.