Finland has opened an honorary consulate in Accra further boosting the long history of trade investment, education, and cooperation between the two countries.

The new honorary consulate, located in Accra, is headed by renowned Professor Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, who has been appointed Honorary Consul of Finland in Ghana.

Prof. Kuenyehia is a successful lawyer, academic and entrepreneur with significant experience in advising foreign direct investors in Africa.

"Opening of the Honorary Consulate has been long overdue. It will help to increase the level of trade and, tourism between the two countries.

"It will also provide educational opportunities for students and support academic collaboration between universities of both counties’ Prof. Kuenyehia stated at a reception marking the opening of the consulate at Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

On her part, Leena Pylvänäinen, Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, who has concurrent accreditation to Ghana, stated that Ghana is already Finland's number one trading partner in West Africa.

The consulate is starting in a strong position to expand cooperation, especially in energy and digitalisation, circular economy in education and vocational training.

“Finland and Ghana share the same priorities in multilateral cooperation: our commitment to promotion of peace and security, democracy and human rights, and strong support for international law.

"In Finland, we have followed with great appreciation the work of Ghana as a member of the UN Security Council, at ECOWAS and in the African Union”, Leena noted. 

In recent years, trade, and investment between the two countries have grown significantly, and the new Honorary Consulate will forge new partnerships in these areas of joint interest.

About Prof Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia

 Professor Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia is a graduate of the University of Oxford, the University of Law, London, Ghana Law School, and the Kellogg School of Management.

The Chairman of the new generation law firm Keystone Solicitors is a Professor of Practice at the University of Buckingham, England, and serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Access Bank Ghana Plc, Goldkey Properties and Sentinel Asset Management Limited.

He is also a member of the Governing Board of the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) of Ghana.