Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Minister
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has asked private sector actors in Ghana and Egypt to seize the enormous opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to boost trade and investment, especially in the manufacturing and agro-processing sectors.
She mentioned that the bilateral relations between both countries remain a very formidable partnership in terms of development cooperation and cooperation at the multilateral level, hence Ghana’s keenness to strengthen trade relations with Egypt, as a model for building cooperation among African countries.
She also observed that Ghana is the fourth-largest market in Africa for Egyptian exports after Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Ms Botchwey made the call when the Ambassador of Egypt, Emad Magdy Hanna Kamel, paid a farewell call on her at the Ministry.
Tour of duty
The Foreign Minister said that even though the outgoing diplomat’s tour of duty in Ghana was brief, his contribution in deepening Ghana-Egypt relations has been immense and remarkable.
She commended him for the instrumental role played in facilitating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EgyptAir and the Government of Ghana.
The move, she said, has promoted a strategic partnership between the two sides and establishing an integrated Ghana National airline with a joint Egyptian-Ghana investment.
In this regard, Ms Botchwey conveyed on behalf of the government, appreciation for the various assistance provided by Egypt in support of Ghana’s nascent airline.
Also commended him for the influential role he played in initiating discussions for the development of Ghana railway services as well as regional linkage projects with Ghana’s geographical neighbours.
Appreciation
Again, Ms Botchwey expressed appreciation to the Egyptian government for supporting Ghana’s successful bid for membership to the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, for the term 2022-2023.
She maintained that Ghana would use the tenure on the Council to promote the shared interest of the African continent.
She lauded Egypt’s pivotal role as a pillar of stability, security and peace in the Maghreb and the African continent.
