His Excellency, Lt. Gen. Joseph H. Smith (Rtd.) on Thursday, 25th June, 2015 presented his Letters of Credence concurrently accrediting him as Ghana’s High Commissioner to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, the Governor-General.
In her acceptance remarks, Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner J.H. Smith, and extended The Bahamas’ felicitations to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama personally, and to the Government and people of Ghana.
Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling paid glowing tribute to Ghana as a beacon of democracy in Africa and also acknowledged Ghana’s international leadership credentials.
She was of the view that the consolidation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Ghana and The Bahamas, will augur well for a stable and profitable environment in which to pursue and enhanced co-operation in trade, investment, tourism and financial services between the two countries.
High Commissioner Smith conveyed warm and fraternal greetings from His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the Government and people of Ghana to the Governor-General, and to the Government and people of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
He noted that Ghana and The Bahamas have maintained cordial relations since 1957 when Ghana attained political independence, adding with pride, the untiring efforts of stalwarts of Pan-Africanism from the Caribbean, namely Marcus Garvey and George Padmore who had worked tirelessly alongside Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in helping Ghana achieve its sovereignty.
Ghana’s High Commissioner expressed Ghana’s appreciation for the strong and productive partnership between the two countries, buttressed by shared democratic values and principles.
He indicated that successive years had witnessed the strengthening of the bonds of friendship between Ghana and The Bahamas, especially our common heritage consolidated through the membership of The Commonwealth of Nations.
High Commissioner Smith expressed Ghana’s desire to promote a healthy and productive bilateral trade and investment relationship between the two countries, with emphasis on tapping into The Bahamas’ own expertise in the tourism and hospitality industry.
While in The Bahamas, High Commissioner Smith paid courtesy calls on Hon. Frederick Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, H.E. Ernesto Soberón Guzman, Cuban Ambassador to the Bahamas and met with the Ghanaian community in The Bahamas.
