Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has bid farewell to Madam Mariana Gonçalves Madeira, the outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana.

A statement issued by the Office of the Vice President said Prof Opoku-Agyemang, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the Government and people of Ghana, thanked Madam Madeira for her service to strengthening relations between the two countries.

The Vice President noted that the relationship between Ghana and Brazil extended far beyond contemporary diplomacy.

She said the two countries shared deep historical and cultural ties shaped by the movement of people across the Atlantic, adding that these connections continued to be reflected in their cultures today.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang said the shared experiences of the two nations provided a strong foundation for partnerships that delivered tangible benefits to their peoples.

She said discussions with the Ambassador covered cooperation in agriculture and agribusiness, energy, security and defence, trade, and other areas of mutual interest.

The Vice President particularly welcomed opportunities for increased collaboration in the energy sector, including through Petrobras, as Ghana sought to expand its energy capacity and attract strategic investment.

She also acknowledged Brazil’s partnership with Ghana on important international initiatives, including efforts related to the historic United Nations resolution on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, as well as cooperation within the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and other programmes focused on women and social development.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang commended Madam Madeira for going beyond the formal requirements of diplomacy through her engagement with various stakeholders in Ghana, notably the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ga Traditional Council, and initiatives supporting food security and social development.

As the Ambassador departs Ghana, the Vice President wished her success in the next chapter of her diplomatic career.

She said Ghana looked forward to working with her successor to sustain the momentum and further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

For her part, Madam Madeira reflected on the progress she had witnessed in Ghana and commended the President and Government for efforts to strengthen the economy.

She described Ghana as an important partner of Brazil and expressed confidence in the potential for both countries to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual benefit.