The 4th session of the Ghana-South Africa Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) has begun in Accra, with a call on African governments to invest in its youthful population.

The PJCC is a joint collaboration between the governments of Ghana and South Africa to promote and reinforce cooperation in all fields of developments.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, encouraged the continent to capitalize on its youthful and educational population.

“It might be an opportunity for us to indeed put words into actions. We should be able to absorb the opportunity we have with our young population. Other continents have aged populations, but we as a continent have 0ver 60 percent of our people being youthful and educated”, she emphasized.

“Let us see that as an opportunity and not youth bulge. Let us put that benefit into practice, and I believe that Ghana, South Africa and the other parts of the continent will not complain” she added.

On her part, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, observed that Ghana and South Africa have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

She expressed optimism about the various areas of cooperation identified and agreed to fully implement them to further boost the existing relationship.

“I recognize that there is still some work to be done, we promise you our support and encouragement to make sure that all that we have agreed on is put to action in the nearest possible time,” she highlighted

“We want this relation to go beyond just the two governments, we are going to have more frequent follow ups, not just at the ministerial levels , but also through our experts and grass root levels, to give it the speed it deserves so we can achieve all that we have agreed on”, she said.

Pacts were signed in the trade sector, on social interventions, petroleum and gas, rail and transport, environment, justice, housing and job creation.