Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey with Hamdi Samad Loza
GHANA IS courting the support
of Egypt to enable it host the Secretariat of the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Government expressed its
desire to house the secretariat of the new continental body in Accra and has since
stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure the deal.
Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, took the diplomatic
lobbying to Cairo where she delivered a message from President Akufo-Addo to
the Egyptian authorities for backing.
The Foreign Minister who was
received by the Egyptian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs responsible for
Africa, Hamdi Samad Loza, mentioned that Ghana was strategically located to aid
accessibility of the secretariat.
She undertook the reciprocal
visit to Egypt from June 20 to 23, 2019, and held bilateral discussions with Mr
Loza.
Ms. Botchway told her host
that despite Ghana’s contribution to the liberation and integration of the
continent, it has not been rewarded with the hosting of any institution of
the African Union.
Briefing journalists at
Beijing in China where she was attending the conference of African foreign
ministers with their Chinese counterparts, the minister recalled the support
Ghana gave to Egypt recently during its quest for the chairmanship of the
African Union which President Akufo-Addo offered the Arab country, culminating
in the election of President El-Sisi’s tenure.
She noted that given Egypt’s
assumption of the chairmanship of the African Union as well as the hosting of
the 2019 African Cup, Ghana should be given the unique opportunity to host the secretariat
of the AfCFTA.
The minister commended Egypt
for the excellent facilities provided to host the 2019 African Cup of Nations
(AfCON) 2019 where President Akufo-Addo watched Ghana’s Black Stars opening
match with Benin.
She assured Egypt of Ghana’s
preparedness to work to ensure the successful reactivation of the Ghana-Egypt
Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) in 2019.
The joint commission would
provide an effective legal framework for the enhancement of bilateral relations
between the two countries.
Ms. Botchway also suggested
that the meeting for the next PJCC be held between the month of October or
November, 2019, with technical cooperation in the areas of aquaculture,
pharmaceuticals, oil and gas.
She additionally congratulated
Egypt on hosting the first Intra-African Trade Fair in December 2018 which
brought exhibitors from other African countries.
The fair, she indicated,
promoted intra-African trade which is billed to greatly benefit the
continent.
The Egyptian Vice-Minister
recalled the long-standing relations between Ghana and Egypt, noting the
socio-economic and political developments in Ghana.
Touching on terrorism, peace
and security in Africa, he expressed concern about the security situation in
Mali, noting the extent of terrorism in the country particularly countries in
the region.
He said Africa had been noted
for its turmoil with evidence of terrorist attacks in Nigeria, Burkina Faso,
Mali and South Sudan, among others.
Regarding the PJCC, he
reiterated Egypt’s commitment to the reactivation of the Joint Commission and
stressed the need for it to be held this year in Egypt.
He extended an invitation to
Ghana to participate in a Peace and Security Conference to be held in Aswan in
the southern part of Cairo.
He mentioned that the conference
would bring together officials from the Ministries of Defence from the
continent particularly ECOWAS countries to share the African perspective on
peacekeeping.
He commended Ghana for her
peacekeeping operations over the years.
Ms Botchway was accompanied by Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt, Dr Nii Okai Hammond; Deputy Director/Office of the Minister, Carolyn Oppong-Ntiri and Deputy Director, Africa and Regional Integration Bureau, Mayfair Adomako-Mensah.
From Fortune Alimi, Beijing
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