On Tuesday, 25 July 2023, Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E Eli Cohen came to Ghana for a working visit. This is the first of its kind by an Israeli Foreign Minister since 2014. In 2009 and 2014, then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman visited Ghana. 

The purpose of Mr. Cohen’s visit to Ghana was to strengthen Israel’s strong and friendly bilateral relations with Ghana since 1958. Mr Eli Cohen’s visit to Ghana focused on Israel’s Economic, Trade and Business relations in Africa with emphasis on Ghana. In view of this, Mr. Cohen arrived in Ghana with a business delegation in sectors such as Agriculture, Water, Cyber Security and Clean Energy among others. 

As part of his visit, H.E. Eli Cohen held meetings with Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. In their meeting, H.E. Eli Cohen discussed a number of bilateral engagements with Ghana. Key amongst them is the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent on Corporation on which renews the commitment to fight against climate change. 

H.E. Eli Cohen also paid a courtesy call on the President of Ghana, H.E.  Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo. In this meeting, Mr Eli Cohen emphasized Israel’s interest in promoting economic and trade relations with Ghana in sectors such as agriculture, water, cybersecurity, clean energy among others. 

Together with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, Mr. Eli Cohen opened the first Israel-Ghana Business Forum organized by our Economic and Trade Mission together with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Association of Ghana Industries.

The Business Forum which was organized under the theme Connecting Markets, Driving Prosperity, hosted a number of Israeli companies in the agricultural, water, clean energy and cybersecurity sectors. They include Netafim, #MigdalSeeds, Data Harbor, Negev Industrial Minerals,  #Lexico, LR GROUP, #ADCon, #DekelOil.

This forum served as a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and meaningful connections between Israeli and Ghanaian businesses, propelling both nations towards a brighter economic future.

He also visited the newly refurbished Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park where he was given a tour of the facility and he also laid a wreath in honour of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamen Nkrumah.  To crown off Mr. Eli Cohen’s visit to Ghana, he visited the University of Ghana Medical Centre which is one of the major health facilities modeled after the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel. It is a symbol of the many partnerships between the State of Israel and Ghana. The UGMC was built by EDC, an Israeli company and they are also deploying the Nanox technology from Israel.