Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, and the outgoing Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Ghana, Mr Mohammad Soleymani, made the pledge in Accra yesterday.

Mr Soleymani paid a farewell call on Mr Adjaho at the end of his five-year duty tour of Ghana.

Opportunities

Mr Adjaho said Ghana and Iran were endowed with potentials in both economic and social sectors.

“We have to explore the opportunities for the mutual benefit of all,” he said.

Mr Adjaho expressed joy at the decision of the P5+1 countries to lift sanctions against Iran.

The P5+1 refers to the United Nations Security Council's five permanent members (the P5), namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus Germany.

The Speaker said during his visit to Iran some years ago, his counterpart, the Speaker of Iran, told him that the nuclear programme was for a peaceful purpose; he believed Iran was developing the nuclear for a peaceful purpose.

Ghana-Iran relations

Mr Adjaho said Ghana-Iran relations dated back decades, and indicated that Ghana had benefited significantly from educational scholarships from the Republic of Iran.

He mentioned the establishment of the Iran Clinic in Accra as an important symbol of Iran’s contribution to Ghana.

The Speaker commended Mr Soleymani for contributing to deepening the ties between Ghana and Iran. For instance, he said, Ghana’s President, Mr John Mahama, Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, and the Speaker have all visited Iran.

Likewise, he said, former Iranian President and the current Iranian Foreign Minister had also visited Ghana in a reciprocal gesture.

Mr Adjaho urged Mr Soleymani to continue to be an advocate for Ghana and Africa wherever he would find himself.

Iranian ambassador

Mr Soleymani said Iran was ever ready to deepen economic and social ties with Ghana.

He said the two countries would benefit tremendously if they strengthened their economic and social relations particularly through the private sector.

According to the ambassador, the support he had enjoyed from the government and the Speaker had convinced him to adopt Ghana as his second home.

Election

Mr Soleymani expressed the hope that Ghana would once again go through the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections peacefully.

“I hope you will have a peaceful, secure and successful election,” he said.