The Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Mrs. Imane Ouaadil has highlighted the great transformation of the North African nation under the reign of King Mohammed VI since his ascension to the throne 25 years ago.

Speaking at the Moroccan National Day event at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to celebrate the King’s 25th anniversary, Her Excellency Ouaadil presented a long list of changes that have taken place in various sectors that have repositioned and strengthened the Moroccan economy.

According to her, King Mohammed VI is a symbol of national union and cohesion which characterize the links between the Moroccan people and the people and Alaouite Throne, adding that the 25th-anniversary celebration “pays tribute to the remarkable transformation the Kingdom has experienced under his Majesty’s leadership over the past 25 years.”

According to her, since ascending the throne in 1999, King Mohammed VI has led Morocco through an ambitious economic and social transformation.

“Over the past 25 years, Morocco, a thousand-year-old country, at the crossroads of cultures, has experienced remarkable economic growth and structural reforms have been implemented to innovate, attract foreign investment, and modernize infrastructure.”

She noted that building on its location on the crossroads between Africa and Europe, Morocco under the King’s reign has attracted investments by automobile giants in Tangier, Casablanca and Kenitra.

She added that Morocco, which is already Africa’s top car producer, will by 2026 double its current production capacity to 1.5 million cars.

She noted that the country’s automobile industry is also preparing for the shift to electric mobility.

She said the Kingdom has also invested in world-class infrastructure such as the Tangier Med Port – the largest in the Mediterranean and Africa.

“The Dakhla Atlantic Port in the southern province of the Kingdom is Morocco’s largest infrastructure project, and once completed will become a regional and international logistic and trade hub” she added.

She also talked about Morocco’s progress in the aerospace industry as the country currently has 142 companies operating employing 20,000 people with a total output of 2 billion dollars.

African Integration

Ambassador Ouaadil also shed light on King Mohammed the VI’s vision for African integration and its importance to the Kingdom.

“Under his reign, Morocco has strengthened its relations with many African countries, including Ghana, through his personal visits to these countries and signing cooperation agreements in various fields such as agriculture, health, education and infrastructure.”

She said the Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty in November last year to facilitate access for landlocked Sahel States to the Atlantic Ocean, stands as a distinctive framework aimed at fostering multidimensional African cooperation and promoting peace, stability and socio-economic stability on the continent.

She also mentioned that the development of the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic African Gas Pipeline initiated by King Mohammed VI and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, has reached a critical juncture as high-level officials from twelve West African nations concluded a series of intensive meetings in Rabat last week.

“The entire West African coast to Morocco, is seen as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and improved energy access across the region” she noted.

Ghana-Moroccan relations

The Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana Her Excellency Imane Ouaadil concluded her speech by touching on Ghana’s long-standing relations with Ghana in various sectors that have benefited both countries.

According to her, the economic ties between the two countries are developing dynamically and they maintain outstanding cultural and academic collaboration which are fundamental drivers of a fruitful cooperation.

Ghana’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapa, extended the government’s felicitations to the Moroccan people on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their King and acknowledged Ghana’s economic and cultural ties with the North African nation.

He said both countries have been great advocates of pan-Africanism and are working together for the continent’s growth and development. He talked about the strides made in trade where Morocco exports some products to Ghana whereas Ghana also exports some products to Morocco. He highlighted Moroccan investments in Ghana’s banking and agricultural sectors, as well as Morocco’s support of education in Ghana through the offering of scholarships to Ghanaian students to study in Morocco.

He expressed the hope that future Moroccan celebrations would be a Launchpad for greater collaboration with Ghana as the two countries seek to tap into tourism for their mutual benefit.

The Event

The colourful and brief event attracted people from all walks of life including high commissioners/ambassadors, other members of the diplomatic community, government officials, traditional rulers and public figures who were treated to cultural displays from Ghanaian cultural troupes.

Participants had the chance to experience a taste of Moroccan meals and pastries, after watching a brief video of the North African country and the work that has taken place in that country under the leadership of King Mohammed VI in 25 years and where the country is headed in the years ahead.

Both Ghanaian and Moroccan national anthems were played at the event depicting the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Morocco.

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Photo Credit: @daphotography & @twinsdntbeg