KUMASI, Ghana, CMC—Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says he is looking forward to continued close cooperation with the African continent and that the opening of the new international airport in Kumasi is “the first steps of international travel possibility between our peoples.”
Rowley, addressing the Silver Jubilee of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Monarch of the Ashanti Kingdom, on Sunday, said that he has had “abundant opportunities” to interact with President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akofu-Addo, to explore functional cooperation in areas such as agriculture, energy, education, culture, tourism, trade, and transportation.
“We have exchanged delegations in both directions, exploring trade and investment opportunities for offerings in both markets, always remaining focused on the many commonalities and synergies we share.
“As we move forward together, we will address additional areas of collaboration and strengthen our relationship one step at a time. To this end, the quickest and most effective avenues we could explore would be those that enable the smooth movement of people, goods, and capital between our countries, improving the tourism and trade outlook between our countries with all of the attendant economic activity.”
Rowley told the ceremony that the opening of the new international airport in Kumasi “will not only provide a bridge between Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana to join hands but will also provide a bridge between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African continent to increase trade and investment between Africa and the Caribbean.
“The growing relationship between the Afreximbank, the Africa Business Council, and the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation to establish the Africa-Caribbean Business Council demonstrates the mutual interest of African and Caribbean organizations to growing together, and we in government have a duty and obligation to facilitate.”
Rowley, leading a delegation to the African country, said that following a visit to Accra in 2020, the world was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic “that hurt us all.
“During that period, there was much uncertainty on how we would cope with and manage the devastation of the pandemic on our economies and societies in CARICOM. Countries in the international community, including many of our traditional partners, spared no expense in hoarding all the resources we needed to help us survive.
“They did not hoard it for us but rather for themselves, for the benefit of their populations at the expense of the developing world’s people. That pandemic showed us who our friends are and who our family is.”
Rowley said at the height of the pandemic, “Africa came to our aid.” With the support of African leaders, “CARICOM was able to broker an arrangement with the African Union to allow CARICOM member states, so desiring, to access the African Union’s African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) to secure vaccines which allowed CARICOM countries a pathway to the survival of life and livelihood at a time when it seemed like Mission Impossible to access those products even on commercial terms.
“So you have some insight into my resolute confidence that through our sense of kinship, we can indeed take up any challenge, we will honor our past achievements, and we shall chart our course to a prosperous future.”
He said that similar to the recently returned Ashanti artifacts, looted during the 19th century and finally now on display in their rightful place at the Manhyia Palace Museum, the strength and spirit of the Ashanti also live in the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
The exhibition of these artifacts is timely, as is the name given to the exhibition, “Homecoming, Adversity and Commemoration.” These artifacts include the royal stool, which belonged to Asantehene Kofi Karikari, the 10th Asantehene. It was lost to the British in the same way that Asantehene Kofi Karikari lost his son, Prince Kofi Nti, who was eventually taken by the British to Trinidad and Tobago in 188.
Rowley recalled that during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago last year, the Monarch of the Ashanti Kingdom visited a Signal Station at Fort St. George that Prince Kofi Nti had built.
“One could be forgiven for thinking that the Signal Station, designed and built by Prince Kofi Nti in 1883, helped to establish an enduring connection between the Asantehene and Trinidad and Tobago and emits a spiritual signal that brings us together and points the way to a shared and prosperous future.
“Asantehene, since you acceded to the Golden Stool in 1999, you have worked for the peace and stability of the Ashanti people, Ghana, Africa, and your diaspora. You have been an agent for the development of your people through your work to attract investment and resources for the provision of social services and infrastructure for education, healthcare, water, and sanitation.
“You have provided counsel and support to the Government and people of Ghana in times of crisis and need, and you have redefined the role and image of the modern African monarchy while emphasizing the great value of traditional norms.”
and then 