President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new phase in Ghana’s relationship with Australia, centred on trade, investment and technology transfer, as he bid farewell to the outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones.
Addressing a farewell ceremony at the Jubilee House, the President commended the High Commissioner for strengthening the longstanding friendship between the two Commonwealth nations during her diplomatic assignment.
He noted that Australia was among the first countries to recognise Ghana’s independence and recalled the historical diplomatic ties between the two countries, including Ghana’s decision to reopen its diplomatic mission in Australia after several decades.
President Mahama described the restoration of resident diplomatic missions in both countries as an important milestone that would deepen bilateral cooperation.
He said there remained enormous opportunities to expand collaboration, particularly in mining, agriculture and agro-processing.
The President emphasised Ghana’s determination to move beyond the export of raw minerals by promoting local processing and value addition, while also seeking greater technology transfer to strengthen local expertise in the extractive industry.
He acknowledged the contribution of Australian mining companies to Ghana’s economy and welcomed the opportunities created for Ghanaians working within Australia’s mining sector.
President Mahama also identified agriculture as another promising area for partnership, saying both countries could work together to improve agricultural productivity and agro-processing.
Although relations between Ghana and Australia remain strong, he noted that bilateral trade currently stands at less than US$100 million, a figure he believes falls far short of the potential between the two countries.
President Mahama said his government’s foreign policy is increasingly focused on building partnerships based on trade and investment rather than dependence on grants and loans.
He stressed that expanding domestic revenue and attracting investment remain central to Ghana’s long-term economic transformation agenda.
President Mahama also thanked Australia for providing a welcoming environment for Ghanaian students and professionals living in the country.
In her farewell remarks, High Commissioner Berenice Owen-Jones described serving in Ghana as a great honour and expressed gratitude for the cooperation she received from President Mahama, government officials and the Ghanaian people.
She described Ghana as the cornerstone of Australia’s engagement in West Africa, noting that despite overseeing diplomatic relations with eight other countries in the region, Ghana remained a strategic partner.
The High Commissioner highlighted significant progress in cooperation across mining, agriculture, education and investment during her four-year tenure.
She pointed to Australia’s Direct Aid Programme, Small Grants Projects and Australia Awards Scholarships as important initiatives that have strengthened development cooperation and people-to-people relations.
Owen-Jones also praised Ghana’s growing leadership role on the African continent, citing its contributions to regional stability, the African Continental Free Trade Area and its advocacy on reparations.
She noted that Australian investment across West Africa is valued at approximately US$40 billion, with 22 Australian Stock Exchange-listed companies operating in Ghana, underscoring the importance of the mining sector to bilateral relations.
The outgoing High Commissioner further highlighted growing cooperation in agricultural research through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, particularly in climate resilience and food security.
She said the presence of about 10,000 Ghanaians in Australia continues to strengthen ties between the two countries and expressed confidence that the partnership would continue to flourish long after her departure.
Before concluding, Owen-Jones extended Australia’s condolences to the Government and people of Ghana over the recent floods, expressing sympathy to families affected by the loss of lives and destruction caused by the disaster.
