Indonesian Consulate In Ghana Indonesian Consulate In Ghana
The Indonesian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Dr. Usra Hendra Harahap with support from his Honorary Consul in Accra, Ghana, H.E Paskal A.B. Rois has held a fruitful meeting with the Minister of Defense, Hon. Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul and his staff in Accra.
The engagement which was one of the post-credential presentation activities by the Ambassador at the Jubilee House in Accra, was also attended by the Indonesian Minister Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs in Ghana, Mr. Fahmi Aris Innayah. Also present at the meeting was the Indonesian Defense Attache, Col. Ottow Resalino Maniagasi.
The meeting was described as very fruitful and reveling considering the fact that Ghana and Indonesia have had closer historical ties dating back to the early middle 50s. This closeness of the two countries was built by the founding fathers led by the two Independence Heads of State of the two nations, Presidents Soekarno of Indonesia and Nkrumah of Ghana as the basis for improving relations between the two countries especially in the field of defense co-operation. This relationship was also further cemented with a visit to Indonesia in 2019 by the Minister for Defense, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul where he also interacted with H.E. Prabowo Subianto Indonesian Minister of defense.
During the Accra meeting, both leaders agreed to immediately call for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or a Defense Co-operation Agreement which would cover various fields of co-operation including the use of industrial strategy products, education and training as well as sharing intelligence, data and information.
Dr. Harahap acknowledged the visit of the Defense Minister to Indonesia in November, 2019 and said it was a milestone and a new hope to bring excellent collaboration in the defense industry by signing a Letter of Intent (LI) between his Ministry and PT PINDAD of Indonesia.
The letter, he recapped would cover the supply of defense products and equippment amongst others.
Ambassador Harahap informed the Minister of the track-record of Pinhantanas of the Indonesian Private Defense Industry Association that provides an array of defense and other products to nations around the world. The Company, he said has a membership of 31 subsidiary outlets or divisions that are into the manufacturing of all manner of defense products as well as renewable energy. Pinhantanas is also into ship and sub-marine vessels construction amongst others.
Dr. Harahap disclosed that Ghana has been chosen not only to host an office for this global iconic company in Africa but also an exhibition centre or showroom in Accra where countries within the continent and beyond can visit and subsequently place their orders for such supplies to be delivered to them.
He assured government of deriving the maximum benefit from such co-operation agreements are in the right direction and would inure to the benefit of Ghana and other African countries.
The Ambassador also assured the Minister that the Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Accra would assist his Ministry in every way possible to deepen discussions related to the implementation of the LI.
The Ambassador was grateful to the Ghanaian people and the Government of Ghana for its support, touching on the promotion of education and training co-operation between the two countries, Dr. Harahap welcomed the participation of Ghanaians in the Indonesian scholarship program at the National Defense University located in Bogor.
The Ambassador said Indonesia is keen in seeing an active participation from military officials of the two countries in regular joint military training sessions, adding that the Embassy would strongly advise the use of a Service Passport for the Ghana Military officials to participate in the education and training programme in Indonesia in order to ensure fast and smooth implementation of such an initiative.
The Minister of Defense, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul was grateful to Ambassador Dr. Hendra Harahap and the Honorary Consul Paskal A. B. Rois for the visit and their commitment to deepening the relations between the two countries.
He lauded the Republic of Indonesia for its achievements over the years not only in industry, defense, trade and tourism but also in producing quality world-class standard products that can stand the test of time. According to him, Ghana has a lot to learn from Indonesia hence the need to effectively collaborative in several fields of endeavour.
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