Jamaica has welcomed 49 army engineers and five medical doctors from the Republic of Ghana to assist in the reconstruction and recovery efforts from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28.
Speaking at a reception for the soldiers on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on December 18, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, said Jamaica is grateful to the people and Government of Ghana.
“We are deeply grateful that this engagement is demonstrating the depth of the Ghana/Jamaica partnership that has continued to grow and has been long-standing even before we entered diplomatic relations in 1968,” the minister said.
She noted that the President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama answered positively and in a prompt manner to a request from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, based on their conversation “held only a few weeks ago”.
For his part, Head of the Ghanaian team, Colonel Emanuel Asia, said their arrival on the island was smooth, and they are looking forward to the construction activities.
“Ghana has a long-standing relationship with this country, dating back to the 1950s during our first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah. We are very delighted and grateful that we have the opportunity to physically visit this country to consolidate the relationship Ghana has had with Jamaica, and we pledge that we are here to solidarize and work together,” Colonel Asia said.
For his part, the Ghanaian President told the media in his country that the deployment underscores Ghana’s commitment to international solidarity, humanitarian assistance and the strengthening of ties between Ghana and the diaspora.
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