President Akufo-Addo has symbolically stated that German Chancellor Angela Merkel deserves the new cloth ‘Merkel Fata Ghana,’ named after the German leader.
The presentation of a customized Ghanaian traditional cloth to the German Chancellor, one of Europe’s most powerful leaders, was the highlight of the latter’s official visit to Ghana.
The cloth, named by President Akufo-Addo as ‘Merkel Fata Ghana,’ which when loosely translated means ‘Ghana deserves Merkel,’ was handed over to Dr. Merkel on Thursday, August 30 when she paid a day’s historic visit to Ghana.
Incidentally the president welcomed the German leader to the Jubilee House in the ‘Merkel fata Ghana’ cloth.
Her visit to Ghana, which comes after similar visits by some powerful European leaders such as French President, Emmanuel Macron, is the first of its kind by a German Chancellor in over 10 years, and it is seen as a testament of the growing interest by world leaders in the Akufo-Addo administration and Ghana at large.
President Akufo-Addo, DAILY GUIDE learnt, purposefully gave her the cloth as a gift for not rejecting his invitation in March 2018 to visit Ghana.
Dr. Merkel assured President Akufo-Addo at the time that she would surely visit Ghana and true to her words, she did actually visit the country.
She held bilateral talks with the Ghanaian leader whose vision is to transform the country’s industrial sector, thus getting the German automobile giant, Volkswagen (VW) to express interest in establishing an assembly plant in Ghana to feed the West Africa sub-region.
Checks by this paper revealed that the pink, black and gold coloured fabric with broom-like designs was produced specifically in the country for the German Chancellor by GTP.
The ‘Merkel Fata Ghana’ cloth is similar to a hand-woven Kente cloth, which was named after Helena Ritz Fathia Nkrumah, born Fathia Halim Ritzk, who was an Egyptian and wife of the late President Kwame Nkrumah.
President Akufo-Addo, who has virtually become a friend of many powerful world leaders, presented the German Chancellor with another Kente cloth by name ‘3dwene se dweneso’ and rich locally made beads to match.
Dr. Merkel was completely ecstatic about the honour done her by the Ghanaian leader and expressed her profound appreciation to the President.
Entourage and Partnerships
The German Chancellor, who was on a three-nation tour of Africa, arrived in Ghana with a large number of German investors.
At a joint press conference with President Akufo-Addo, she stated emphatically that the investors were particularly interested in setting up companies and establishing joint partnerships in Ghana.
Also, she disclosed that German companies that are already operating in Ghana are looking for ways to expand their footprints with the intent of helping to provide job opportunities and improve the economy of Ghana which is key on Mr. Akufo-Addo administration’s agenda.
The Chancellor assured her Ghanaian counterpart that her country was prepared to support Ghana in building its infrastructure and shaping its energy sector to be more efficient in adapting to new challenges.
Deal
Throwing more light on the VW deal, President Akufo-Addo said an agreement between Volkswagen, Government of Ghana and a local Ghanaian company was reached after a business meeting.
At a joint press briefing on Thursday, President Akufo-Addo said, “there are so many areas that our bilateral relationship has offered us, but the key part of it, for me is the emphasis on investment and trade cooperation.”
He emphasized Ghana’s “determination to deal with matters confronting the country such as youth unemployment, desire of our youth to seek greener pastures elsewhere by improving the management of our national economy.”
President Akufo-Addo stressed that “the stronger the economy we have, the more opportunities it gives to the young people and obviously, the pressure that will be on them to embark on those hazardous undertakings, will be dealt with.”
He told the press that “in so doing, we’ve set for ourselves a vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid, a Ghana which will depend more and more on mobilizing its own internal resources to confront the issues of development that there are before us.”
In all of this, President Akufo-Addo indicated that “there are a lot of opportunities here, and we are hoping that this business delegation that you have brought with you will see the opportunities that there are in several of the flagship programmes of our government, the One-District-One-Factory, the industrial parks, that we are determined to create.”
President Akufo-Addo also assured Chancellor Merkel of Ghana’s continued cooperation with the international community on issues bordering on illegal migration.
On the threat of terrorism, President Akufo-Addo thanked Chancellor Merkel and Germany for the assistance in tackling the jihadist menace.
“Within our modest means, we will continue to play our effective role, because clearly it is in our interest to do so. “It’s in our interest to contribute to ridding the region of these instruments of destabilization and destruction,” he added.
Source: Daily Guide
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Hei Oga, you don't necessarily need to be an NDC to behave same. I'm neither an NPP, for your information.
I am not an NDC and I sincerely doubt your level of intelligence and logical reasoning. If our president has a slogan that you claim is something that defined his integrity and he has back trackef jon the same then what kind of person is he? Today you are enjoying at the expense of the taxpayer but when the day of reckoning surface even your own home will reject you.
Once NDC always NDC in terms of the low level of logical thinking and reasoning. The propaganda, lies, and populism is the trademark of the NDC as a political Party. If the President can just wake up and fly to China to beg for $2 billion and get it just like that, then there might be something remarkable about the president, we deliberately refuse to appreciate and acknowledge. A Government, not long ago, found it very difficult to source a loan of $300m from China, even under very unfavorable conditions, yet failed to secure it. There might be something significant about our President, say good Leadership skills, and integrity we inadvertently fail to recognize. There is no free lunch anywhere, and not in China. But it takes a lot of integrity, credibility to be accorded that trustworthiness to enable you to secure such a transaction.
You are just an NPP fanatic who refuse to reason and consciously refuse to see the reality of the plight of Ghanaians in recent times. Well, since you are not experiencing any hardship because your political party is controlling the state resources, need I remind you that average Ghanaians who have no political affiliation will make their decision come 2020. "You see, Nana is a first class politician who has clearly defined his policy and thoughtfully coined a powerful slogan, 'Ghana beyond Aid' to embody and reflect his vision." Aren't you ashamed of the above comment whiles the president is in China to beg for $2billion. People like you just think about their gains whiles their party is in power without thinking about the suffering of others. Your ***barred word*** about the suffering of the ordinary Ghanaians as a result of the comfort you enjoy now will definitely be the reason that will send you and your party to opposition in 2020.
You see, Nana is a first class politician who has clearly defined his policy and thoughtfully coined a powerful slogan, 'Ghana beyond Aid' to embody and reflect his vision. Which seems to be appealing to most of the World powerful leaders and finding a positive response. I was emotionally touched when I heard OYE, Nana's favorite song being played for him, to welcome him to China. A friendly gesture, indeed. I am not saying this to scare away NDC from the 2020 elections but to contest the caliber of Nana and his NPP to date, you really have to tighten your belt in terms of policy message and political expediency. Propaganda, populism and lose polemics can never be a match for Nana, the President, and his NPP. And I strongly warn NDC to discard playing the tribal card of bigotry. That would clearly be counterproductive and NDC would suffer bitterly for it. For, the Ghanaians have grown out of the status quo-politics of deceit, boys with sharp teeth mantra and repetitions of lies for ostensible truth. And I bet, 20% execution of NPP promises and manifesto would put her out of reach for NDC in terms of competence, credibility and fulfilling the aspirations of many Ghanaians. The dynamics of World Politics today, put good Leadership in African Politics at advantage to boost and own wise investments in Africa.
STORY NOT COMPLETE, WHERE IS A PHOTO OF A SAMPLE OF THE KENTE CLOTH THAT WAS PRESENTED?
Jobs, jobs, jobs and jobs for the middle class and youth. I know NPP will DELIVER!