Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged members of the Ghanaian community in Palermo, Italy, to remain united and continue contributing to Ghana’s development agenda.
Speaking during an engagement with members of the Ghanaian community in the Italian city on the sidelines of her participation in the Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action forum in Palermo, Italy, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang called on them to continue looking out for and supporting one another, as they are far from home.
“I urged the Ghana Association of Palermo and the wider community to remain united, support one another, and continue to serve as worthy ambassadors of Ghana in Italy. Our strength lies in our solidarity and in the spirit of cooperation that defines us as Ghanaians wherever we find ourselves,” the Vice President said on her social media handles.
She expressed deep gratitude for the warm reception accorded her upon arrival, saying, “I thank you sincerely for the warm welcome you extended to me at the airport and for showing up in impressive numbers even on a working day.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang gave special recognition to Ghanaian youth in Italy, stressing their importance to national development.
“The youth are not just our future; they are our present. Their voices must be meaningfully considered in decision-making, especially on matters that directly affect their lives and future.”
The Vice President outlined key government programmes under the Big Push Strategy, describing it as “a bold initiative aimed at addressing Ghana’s infrastructure needs — roads, hospitals, and schools — while stimulating economic growth and job creation.”
Touching on the economy, she emphasised the importance of safeguarding recent gains.
“I also highlighted the government’s Big Push Strategy, a bold initiative aimed at addressing Ghana’s infrastructure needs, including roads, hospitals, and schools. I noted that work needs to be done to maintain our current economic stability because it is reflected in declining prices and a stronger exchange rate.”
On agriculture, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang reiterated that the sector remains central to Ghana’s transformation agenda.
“The government’s agricultural transformation agenda remains central to our progress, through initiatives such as the Feed Ghana Programme, the Grow24 Framework, and the Women in Agricultural Productivity and Enterprise Fund (WAPE-Fund). These efforts seek to modernise farming, promote value addition, and create jobs across the value chain.”
“Furthermore, I reiterated Ghana’s commitment to processing more of its natural resources, including cocoa, shea butter, and cashew, to capture greater value, empower farmers, and strengthen rural economies. I called for a collective sense of purpose, stressing that national progress is achieved when citizens at home and abroad work together toward shared goals.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also called for unity among Ghanaians abroad, stating, “Our strength lies in our solidarity and in the spirit of cooperation that defines us as Ghanaians wherever we find ourselves.”
“National progress is achieved when citizens at home and abroad work together toward shared goals. I urge the Ghana Association of Palermo and the wider Ghanaian community in Italy to remain united, support one another, and continue to serve as worthy ambassadors of Ghana.”
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
