The Minister of Communication, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, and The Minister of Transport and Communication in Helsinki, Finland, Anne Berner, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

A statement issued by the Second Secretary of the Embassy of Finland, Abuja (which has oversight for Ghana), Otto Stenius, said the document identified areas of common interest ranging from multimedia and software applications to electronic commerce and broadband networks.

It said the document also made reference to encouraging investment and technology partnerships, commercial and industrial exchanges, and business partnerships, as well as promoting educational and learning exchanges and facilitating joint programmes and seminars.

The statement said Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful, who is on a two-day visit to Finland, held bilateral discussions with Ms. Berner.

It said the two Ministers focused on cooperation possibilities in various areas, and agreed that in a digitalised environment connectivity is of the essence.

According to the statement, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful also met the funding agencies; Finnvera and Finnfund, and discussed with them possible cooperation with Ghana in the areas of ICT and digitalisation.

It said at Nokia Headquarters in Espoo where Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful was welcomed by Nokia Chairman Risto Siilasmaa, she was introduced to Nokia technologies and latest innovations in the field of communication technology, digitalisation and safe cities, at the company's Executive Experience Centre.

The statement further said the Minister was accompanied to Finland by the Director General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) of Ghana, David Gyewu.

The Ambassador of Finland to Ghana (but based in Abuja), Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, who was in Helsinki as part of the programme, said the discussions and the signing of the MoU demonstrated the excellent relations between Finland and Ghana, as well as highlighting the many more cooperation possibilities that could still be tapped. That's according to the statement.