The republic of Ghana on this week signed an economic agreement with Turkey to enhance trade between the two countries.

The bilateral agreement is to cover areas such as trade, investment, energy, human security, science and industries, health, agriculture, education, water, tourism, maritime and culture.

It also covered exports, development of free zones, small-medium enterprises, infrastructure, youth and sports, environment, forestry, urbanisation and general technical cooperation.

Ghana’s Trade Minister, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, and Turkish Minister of Health, Mr. Mehmet Muezzinoglu, signed the agreement at the inauguration of the Ghana and Turkey joint trade and economic committee meeting in Accra.

Mr. Iddrisu said the signing ceremony marked the beginning of Ghana and Turkey relations to increase direct foreign trade.

He said Ghana had made special requests to Turkey for assistance in the training of medical professionals in Ghana, and appealed to Turkish businessmen to locate their businesses in Ghana under the Public/Private/Partnership programme.

Mr. Iddrisu announced that Ghana would send a delegation to Turkey in June to finalise the signing of the bilateral agreement.

Mr. Muezzinoglu said Turkey had made significant investments in Ghana, and it was time for it to increase its trade volume to about one billion dollars.

He announced that Turkey would be holding a Business Council Meeting in Turkey, and Ghana would be there on April 17.

The Turkish Health Minister said Turkey had supported Ghana with 400 million dollars to construct two hospitals, and expressed the hope that the facilities would help improve the health sector.