Mauritius celebrates 49th independence anniversary, Ghana joins occasion

Mauritius celebrates its 49th independence and 25th anniversary celebrations on Sunday, March 12, and chief among the guests is Ghana’s Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

A few hours before the festivities, both countries signed various agreements at the Government House in the capital Port Louis for a stronger partnership.

“Mauritius is a model for us and we want to emulate you,” Dr Bawumia said at a Breakfast Business Meeting Sunday morning.

“We believe that government should set the best environment for the private sector to invest and it is time now for action … Our economy is based on production and not on taxation. This is why we abolished various taxes,” the Vice President added.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also reiterated his country’s support for Mauritius on the Chagos islands.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia had a four-eyed meeting with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Saturday where they reviewed the work of the first meeting of the Permanent Joint Commission between the two countries.

Mauritius Prime Minister was happy that things are moving rapidly on both sides.

“Discussions on the establishment of a special economic zone in Ghana are accelerating,” Pravind Jugnauth said.

The construction of a Cyber Tower is envisaged in the region of Kwabenya in Ghana and the structure will mainly focus on ICT-related activities.

“We are confident that through this tower we will find room for the creation of a centre of excellence for professionals and other services that will encourage partnerships between Mauritians and Ghanaians,” Jugnauth said.

Mauritius also wants to engage in the production of solar energy in Ghana.

The Standing Joint Committee was co-chaired by Mauritius Foreign Affairs Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo and his counterpart from Ghana, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

A non-double taxation agreement was signed along with other agreements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Green Energy, Financial Services, tourism and health, as well as arts and culture.

Mauritius Foreign Affairs Minister explained that his country shared things which they know best.

“We want to be an investment corridor and are inviting Ghana’s private sector to come to invest,” Lutchmenaraidoo told Africanews.

“We have seen that Ghana is a vibrant democracy, with a free judiciary, free press and above all transparent. All our efforts to attract foreign investors will be based on these criteria,” he added.

The Mauritian side is confident that the permanent Joint Working Group will bring results.

Lutchmenaraidoo wished that an economic forum “Davos of Africa” is organised on the Indian Ocean Island.

Mauritius obtained its independence from Britain on March 12, 1968 and became a Republic on the same day in 1992.