President Akufo-Addo has assured the President of Hungary that Ghana will soon reciprocate the diplomatic gesture of Hungary by also opening a consulate in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary.
Hungary was one of the first Socialists countries in Europe to establish a diplomatic mission in Ghana in 1961. However, it closed its mission in 1989 and after about three decades, it reopened same in April 2016. On 1 December 2017, Vice President Bawumia, officially commissioned the Hungarian embassy in Cantonment, Accra.
In his remarks before proposing the toast at a state banquet in honour of the President of Hungary, Jànos Āder and first lady Anita Herczegh, at a makeshift banquet hall at the Jubilee House on 13 January 2022, President Akufo-Addo said Ghana will follow through with its plan to open her 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”.
“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 every soon, Ghana will also reopen her mission in Budapest” he added.
*Strong Partnership*
President Akufo-Addo in his address noted that with the visit of the Hungarian leader to Ghana, he is looking forward to a 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.
*Hungarian leader*
The President of Hungary, Jànos Āder, in his response to the toast of President Akufo-Addo, welcomed the assures given to him by President Akufo-Addo that Ghana will be re-opening 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, but I heard you saying you will do so soon. Without me asking, you delivered” President Jànos Āder said in his native language through an interpreter.
*Schedule of visit*
The Hungarian President, János Áder, together with his wife, Anita Herczegh, as part of their state visit to Ghana, were received at the Jubilee House by President Akufo-Addo and first Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, after inspecting a guard of hour formed by a Navy contingent at the forecourt of the Jubilee House.
As part of his schedule for his five-day visit to Ghana, he 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 Ogua Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, and also visit the Kakum National Park.
Before he departs Ghana on the 16th of January 2022, he will meet the Hungarian community in Ghana, pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene, His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, visit the Kumasi Waste Water Treatment Plant (KWWTP) built by Hungarian experts.