Rune Skinnebach assumes duty as EU Ambassador to Ghana

Rune Skinnebach on Friday assumed office as the new Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Ghana after presenting his Letters of Credence to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House.

Ahead of the ceremony, Ambassador Skinnebach presented his Open Letters to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The event marked the formal start of the envoy’s mission to further strengthen relations between Ghana and the European Union.

Both President Mahama and Mr Skinnebach reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the long-standing partnership between the two sides.

Mr Skinnebach said he looked forward to strengthening Ghana-EU relations during his four-year tenure, describing Ghana as a preferred trading partner of the Union.

He noted that EU support in areas of youth, education and sustainability underscored its partnership with Ghana.

He pledged to work towards establishing the EU as Ghana’s primary security partner and political partner of choice.

Ambassador Skinnebach is a seasoned diplomat with more than 20 years of service in the EU’s external relations.

He previously served as EU Ambassador to Malawi, Deputy Head of Division for Pan-African Affairs at the European External Action Service in Brussels, and Head of the Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to Zambia.

He began his diplomatic career in 1994 at the EU Delegation in Ghana, a posting that provided him early exposure to Ghana-EU cooperation.

He replaces Ambassador Irchad Razaaly, who completed his duty tour last month.

Ghana and the EU has shared close political, cultural and economic relations since Ghana’s political independence in 195.

Under the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU supports Ghana’s efforts towards sustainable and inclusive development, focusing on green growth, smart and sustainable cities, good governance and security.

As part of this partnership, Ghana is one of the few West African countries with both an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and a Voluntary Partnership Agreement on legal timber trade, which frame trade rules and forest legality cooperation between Ghana and the EU.

The?EU-Ghana Economic Partnership Agreement is?a trade and development agreement that grants?Ghana?duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union market for its exports.

In return, Ghana is gradually opening its market to about 80% of EU products, a process that began in 2021 and will conclude by 2029.

The agreement aims to strengthen economic ties, promote sustainable development, and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in the global market, according to official information the EU.

In recent years, the EU has committed substantial funding and technical cooperation to Ghana in areas such as infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, and development of public institutions.

Under the Joint Programming Document for 2021-2027, Team Europe, made up of the EU, its Member States and institutions, is implementing initiatives in Smart, Green and Digital Recovery, including rehabilitation of the Kpong Dam, support for vaccine production, energy transition and green finance for private sector development.

Source: GNA

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