Greek Foreign Minister calls for stronger cooperation with Ghana

Greek Foreign Minister, Mr Nikos Dendias, has called for the strengthening of the friendly relationship with Ghana for the mutual benefit of both countries.

“I will like to say that my country Greece will like to be part of Ghana’s future. We would like to work together and transform our common friendship to a new level,” he said after a tour of St. Nicholas Preparatory School at Tema New Town.

He said the two countries could use their common interests as sea-faring nations to create a very bright future for the population.

“We can work in all sorts of ways together. We can cooperate in energy, we can cooperate in the maritime industry, the Greek maritime fleet, which is the biggest in the world and really cooperate on how we can bring the techniques of renewable energy and tourism.

“There are many things we can do together and there are synergies that can be built upon but these need human contact and also needs economic contact and we have to put flesh to the bone of our good and friendly relationship. We share the same principles but it needs positive work. You have a young and very ambitious population. This is a good capital for the future.”

It is the first time ever that a Greek Minister has visited Ghana and Mr Dendias used the occasion to donate 150,000 Astrazeneca vaccines to the government.

Speaking to the school children after various cultural performances, Mr Dendias congratulated the Tsakos Foundation and Mytilinaios Company for the amazing job they were doing to transform the lives of the children.

“I have to say that they set for us Greeks a very proud example of how we could help our fellow human beings in another continent, which on the map looks far and  if you are here looks extremely close to ours.

“I came here on behalf of the Greek Government, the Government of Prime Minister Mitsotakis, in order to add our own donation to this proud example of human care for each other.”

Minister Dendias and his delegation which included the Greek Ambassador to Nigeria handed over two paintings as well as many books and other items to the school and promised to assist with resources if this is possible.

The Minister interacted with the children, the Paramount Chiefs, the Trustee,  the teachers and staff and with the Greek guests.

Archbishop Petros Parginos of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Accra and West Africa,’ underscored the importance of education in empowering people for the future.

“We are a very true and firm believers in education and the role education plays in empowering people for the future,” and pledged to support the students who complete the Junior High school to continue the Secondary course at the St Peters College, Larteh.

“We thought that it is a wonderful opportunity that if people finish here we can then offer them that opportunity in Larteh St Peters College at a private school that offers quality education,” he said, adding that the fine details would be ironed out with the school’s authorities.

Ms Deborah Eleazar, co-founder and Trustee of the St Nicholas Charity, said the school was encouraged about the Minister’s visit and had organised a programme around the Greek culture that the children have learnt. The children presented the Minister with a Kente Cloth, beads and a painting of Corfu “

“The visit is truly amazing both for the school as well as very commendable for the donation of vaccines. We are grateful for the time given to our school to demonstrate what our wonderful children are achieving. 

In 2006, the Tsakos Group launched the building of an Orthodox Christian Church in Tema New Town, Ghana. This was completed in 2008 and consecrated with the name of St Nicholas, after the Patron Saint of the seafarers.

Following the construction of the church, it became apparent that a school, close by in order to cater for those in the local community and support children living in deprived conditions in the area, was needed.

To achieve this objective, a fundraising campaign commencing with a donation of the TsakosGroup, through the Foundation in memory of the Founders’ daughter Maria Tsakos.
The school now operates as a UK registered charity with an NGO in Ghana and frequently fundraise internationally.

Currently, the school has 162 students at various levels on the education ladder.

Education within St. Nicholas Preparatory School goes beyond the traditional norm of Ghanaian Education as well as the standard compulsory syllabus, the children are taught Greek and French.

The school is strongly supported by the Honorary Consul of Cyprus and Greece Mrs Marianna Gavriel.