Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia, Dr Koma Jehu-Appiah, has presented his letters of credentials to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, at a colourful ceremony in Alexandrovsky Hall of the Bolshoi Kremlin Palace.

Dr Jehu-Appiah was among 34  newly appointed ambassadors to various countries including Algeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Gabon, Namibia and Mauritania, who presented their credentials to formally announce their assumption of duty.

After the ceremony, Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia held a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov.

Relations

Presenting the credentials, Dr Jehu-Appiah said the official ceremony marked the official beginning of duties in the Russian Federation and that he had five more countries to present his credentials to.

He said Ghana was determined to build on its existing relationship with Russia, noting that Ghana–Russia relations were strengthening based on historical ties and growing cooperation in trade (oil and grain), education—where many Ghanaian students had received scholarships to study in the country—and security, particularly through steady maritime support.

Receiving the credentials, President Putin observed that Russia had always pursued and would continue to pursue a weighted, constructive foreign policy that took into account the objective of global development trends with all partners interested in cooperation and to maintain truly open and mutually beneficial relations,’ deepening ties in politics, economy, humanitarian sphere and countering’.

He said the geo-political situation and the economic architecture were rapidly changing, creating new conditions for Russia to get committed to the ideals of a multipolar world and that Russia was ready to work with countries that were strategic partners with whom it was united by friendship, cooperation and mutual support and with whom it was ready to work in international business.

The Russian President said the foundations of his country’s relationships with Africa were laid back during the struggle of African peoples for freedom and political independence, with Russia making a significant contribution to the liberation of African countries from colonial rule and contributing tremendously to their attaining statehood and to the development of national economies, education and the social sphere.