Ghana has only been around for a little over 50 years, so it’s still a little tentative in its foreign relations. Truth be known, even countries which have been around for thousands of years still might be looking for new ways to do better, so the “startup” mentality might actually be to its credit. However, it does have a great friend in Canada, which has been among its kindest advisors and partners on the international stage. The Canada 411 is that the two actually have the most long standing international treaty that involves an African partner as an equal, which is a pretty nice distinction to have.

The Canadian International Development Agency (also known as CIDA) has been with Ghana since 1957. And since the two seem to be getting along so well, it will most likely continue going on until Ghana is an international player at the level of a mature country. If this tiny land ever develops to the point where China and India start to take notice of it, Canada is going to be very happy (and no doubt happily rewarded) for its long term commitment to helping Ghana to be a peaceful, prosperous and independent African nation. There is just something rewarding about helping someone new to improve.

As time goes on, the relationship between these two nations should be extremely beneficial to both. Canada is a smart country, and they plan their maneuvers (and build their relationships) for maximal benefits over the long term. The likelihood of anything but a very successful coalition between Canada and Ghana is practically nil — at least in this one corner of Africa, the people rule and the country is free to build and to shape its own destiny. It should be exciting as time goes on, seeing what such a country may be capable of doing. You can’t tell with a simple glance.