The Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, His Excellency Karl Nehammer’s name goes down in the history books of Ghana as the first to visit the country.

Until this visit, no Chancellor from the country had visited Ghana despite strong and growing diplomatic ties.

The Chancellor on Wednesday met President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House as part of his two-day working visit to the country.

At the Jubilee House, the Austrian government and the Ghanaian side signed two agreements centred on General Cooperation and Defence Cooperation.

The GNA reports that the agreement on General Cooperation was signed by Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Foreign Minister for Austria Alexander Schallenberg, whilst that on Defence Cooperation was signed by Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul and the Austrian Foreign Minister.

President Akufo-Addo recognises that the relations between the two countries date back several decades and have grown stronger.

The evidence of the cooperation, President Akufo-Addo outlined to be found in the trade volumes between the two countries; bilateral agreement for officers of the Austrian Armed Forces to hold courses at the Kofi Annan International Peace-keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC); the establishment of 16 Integrated Recycling and Compost Plants in Ghana.

“These, and many more, provide a durable basis for cordial cooperation and collaboration between our two countries.

The Ghanaian people and I value very much the relationship and the friendship between Ghana and Austria, and my hope is that our two nations and peoples will continue to deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation that exist between us,” President Akufo-Addo notes.