Ghana has expressed commitment to deepen relations with Niger as Ghana’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey recalled with satisfaction, the long history of brotherliness, friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance that has characterized relations between the two countries for more than a century.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said this when the Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Niger to Ghana, Lamido Salamtou Bala Goga, presented her open letters to the Foreign Affairs Minister in Accra on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
She noted that the pioneering efforts of the first Presidents of the two countries, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Hamani Diori, to unite the African continent with a common purpose of African emancipation have strengthened cooperation towards the consolidation of peace, economic liberation and poverty eradication between the two countries.
According to her, the excellent relations, in recent times, have continued to be cordial as both countries maintained close ties in various spheres of mutual interests, particularly, on issues of economy, trade and security.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey also indicated that, the excellent relation between the two countries was further demonstrated by the over one million Nigeriens in Ghana who were engaged in trading activities and a large number of Ghanaians also living and working in Niger.
She observed that Ghana and Niger signed a five-year Bilateral Agreement on General Cooperation on 19th June, 2018 and stressed on the importance of commissioning a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) to serve as a forum for addressing the challenges and implementation of the agreement.
The Foreign Affairs Minister clarified that Ghana on 1st January 2018, opened a Consulate-General in Niamey and noted with satisfaction that in the interest of further deepening ties between the two countries, the Consulate-General was upgraded to the status of an Embassy on 7th August, 2019.
To consolidate the relations with Niger, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey disclosed that Ghana desired to construct a permanent structure to house its Chancery and the Ambassador’s residence in Niamey.
She therefore reiterated Ghana’s request for a parcel of land within the diplomatic enclave of Niamey to construct a Chancery and Ambassador’s residence and expressed the hope that in the spirit of the historical relations that exist between the two countries, the government of Niger will expedite action on Ghana’s request.
Commenting on the recent successful elections in Niger, congratulate the Niger Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) for their outstanding role in ensuring a successful election and noted with satisfaction, the democratic path embarked upon by the brotherly people of Niger that resulted in the free, fair and credible run-off election in December, 2020.
Source: Henry George Martinson@radiogoldlive.com
