President Nana Akufo-Addo has assured the president of Hungary that Ghana will soon reciprocate Hungary’s diplomatic gesture by opening a consulate in Budapest, the Hungarian capital city.
Hungary was one of the first Socialist countries in Europe to establish a diplomatic mission in Ghana in 1961. However, it closed the mission in 1989 and did not reopen it for about three decades, until April 2016. On 1 December 2017, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia officially commissioned the Hungarian embassy in Cantonments, Accra.
In remarks before he proposing the toast at a state banquet in honour of the president of Hungary, Jànos Áder and the Hungarian first lady, Anita Herczegh, in a makeshift banquet hall at Jubilee House on 13 January 2022, President Akufo-Addo said Ghana will follow through on its plan to open an embassy in Hungary.
“Relations between Ghana and Hungary have been very cordial and continue to grow. Hungary established diplomatic relations with Ghana quite early in our independent life when she opened a resident mission in Accra in 1961,” he said.
“In the spirit of reciprocity, Ghana opened a resident diplomatic mission in Budapest in 1962 until 1966 when, after the overthrow of the First Republic, the mission was closed,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“The Republic of Hungary however maintained its mission in Accra until 1989, when it was closed. It reopened its embassy in 2017 during the first year of my presidency. I am hopeful that, very soon, Ghana will also reopen her mission in Budapest,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Strong partnership
In his address, President Akufo-Addo noted that with the visit of the Hungarian leader to Ghana, he is looking forward to strong partnership between the business communities of the two countries to boost trade and economic relations.
“With your visit, I am confident that a strong foundation for a new and mutually beneficial cooperation has been laid. And I am expectant that the contact between our two business communities will yield the necessary fruit of enhanced private exchanges between Ghanaian and Hungarian business people,” Akufo-Addo said.
Promise kept
In his response to the toast, Jànos Áder welcomed the assurances by President Akufo-Addo that Ghana will be reopening her embassy in Budapest soon.
“This morning, Mr President, I forgot to ask you when you will be opening an embassy in Ghana as a reciprocal gesture to ours,” said President Áder, speaking in his native Hungarian through an interpreter.
“But I heard you saying you will do so soon. Without me asking, you delivered.”
Scheduled tour
Together with his wife, President Áder led a delegation to Jubilee House to begin their state visit to Ghana. They were received by President Akufo-Addo and the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, after inspecting a guard of honour on the forecourt of Jubilee House by a navy contingent.
During his scheduled five-day visit to Ghana, President Áder will visit the Newill Academy School in Koforidua and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.
He and his delegation will pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, and also visit Kakum National Park.
Before he leaves Ghana on 16 January (Sunday), he will meet members of the Hungarian community in Ghana, pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and visit the Kumasi Waste Water Treatment Plant, built by Hungarian experts.
Wilberforce Asare
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