Selma Roth Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The consul general of Ghana awarded six Saudis who have contributed to the success of the consulate's activities over the years. Winners of the Awards of Recognition were Mohammed Ahmed Tayyeb, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah region branch; Sheikh Abdulwahid Burhan Saifaddin, chairman of the Establishment of Mutawwif for Pilgrims of African Non-Arab Countries; and Sheikh Adnan Hassan Mukhtar, head of the accommodation committee at the same establishment, among others. The awards were presented during the celebrations for Ghana's Independence Day held in Jeddah in the presence of over 250 guests. The function was also used to showcase and market Ghana's investment potentials to the business community, for which information brochures, audio-visuals and ‘made in Ghana' products were available. During his address, Ghana Consul General in Jeddah Mohammed Habib Idris remarked that Ghana, on March 6, 1957, was the first country in Africa south of the Sahara to achieve independence from colonial rule, which “opened the floodgates for political liberation from colonial domination across the length and breadth of Africa. Ghana became the beacon of light and hope for unity and development in Africa and beyond. It is in this vein that we see this celebration not only for Ghana but also for the whole of Africa and beyond.” The country established diplomatic ties with the Kingdom only three years later, and Idris thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the government and the people of Saudi Arabia for the country's support of Ghana's socioeconomic development efforts over the years. “Saudi Arabia's assistance to Ghana, mainly through the Saudi Fund for Development, has covered the critical fields of agriculture, health and education, among other sectors,” the consul-general continued, adding that Saudi officials at the Deportation Center had also cooperated with the Ghanaian consulate to “repatriate our nationals wishing to return to Ghana” during the amnesty period. “At the non-governmental level, Ghanaian Muslim communities have continued to benefit from mosques and water projects and educational facilities provided by charitable organizations and philanthropic individuals in the Kingdom.” Idris expressed his hope that this outstanding relation would continue to grow in the coming years and benefit both countries. Keen to attract more investments to the country, the consul stressed on his country's political stability and expanding economy – “one of the fastest in the world.” As a country rich in resources including cocoa, gold, diamond, bauxite, wood, oil and gas, Idris remarked there are trade and investment potentials in agriculture and agro-processing, mining and mineral processing, oil and gas production, real estate development, transportation, tourism, banking and financial sectors. “For these factors, Ghana has been ranked by reputable international institutions as a top and preferred destination for foreign investments.” Among the diplomats, Saudi officials, and businesspeople present were Special Guest of Honor Jamal Bakar Balkhoyor, head of consulate division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah region branch; Ghana Ambassador Abdullah Salifu; Birama Boubacar Sidibé, vice-president of the Islamic Development Bank Group; and Hameed Opeloyeru, assistant secretary-general at the Organization for Islamic Cooperation.
