Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has assured that Parliament will ratify the Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports’ when it returns from recess.
She gave the assurance when the Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Ghana, H.E. Natasha Eugenia Halfhuid called on her in Accra.
With regard to the ‘Air Services Agreement’, the Foreign Minister disclosed that it has been proposed that the respective aviation authorities of the two countries liaise directly with each other in drafting a mutually beneficial document for consideration
Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey seized the opportunity to promote Ghana as the
gateway to the sub-region and added that with the establishment of the
Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) in Ghana, the
country has also become the point of entry into the entire African market.
During the meeting, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey seized the opportunity to
congratulate the Suriname Ambassador on the successful presentation of her
credentials to President Akufo-Addo on September 10, 2019.
She wished the Ambassador a pleasant stay in Ghana and a successful tour of
duty, and assured of Government’s support towards advancing the interests of
the people of the two countries.
The Ghanaian Foreign Minister referred to the long-standing historical
relations between the two countries which dates back to the 1970s when
diplomatic relations were first established.
She acknowledged that the Ghana-Suriname relationship has seen a revival in
recent times with the exchange of several high-level visits.
Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey mentioned the participation of Vice President Michael
Ashwin Satyandre Adhin as Guest of Honour, in the 20th Anniversary Celebration
of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s ascension to the
Golden Stool in April 2019, which was a reciprocal visit to the Asantehene’s own participation in the 43rd Independence Anniversary of Suriname in November 2018.
The Minister observed that the highlight of the Vice President’s visit to Ghana was the establishment of Suriname’s first African Diplomatic Mission in Accra. That, she said, was a testament to the importance of Ghana-Suriname relations.
She recalled the MOUs signed during the visit of the Surinamese delegation to Ghana, namely the MOU on the Establishment of Political Consultations; Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports; Roadmap on the Programme for Cooperation for the Period of 2019 – 2023; and a Joint Letter of Intent for Cooperation and Collaboration in the Field of Diplomacy and International Relations.
The Minister emphasized the fact that the signing of MOUs in various sectors was a demonstration of the desire of the two countries to translate the existing relationship into more practical projects for mutual benefit.
Meanwhile, she expressed regrets for the Vice President of Ghana’s inability to pay an official visit to Suriname, originally scheduled for 10th and 11th November, 2019.
According to her, as part of its economic transformation agenda, Ghana is implementing flagship programmes such as the ‘One District One Factory’ (1D1F), ‘One Village, One Dam’ and the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ initiatives among others, and called on Surinamese businesses to take advantage of existing opportunities and invest in these projects.
She further noted that the country’s educational sector also has great potential for cooperation especially in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The Foreign Minister therefore expressed hope for bilateral engagements which will further strengthen relations between the two countries.
But she assured that another high-level visit to Suriname will be scheduled
at the earliest convenience, expressing support for specific areas of
collaboration, such as trade and investment, agriculture and agro-processing,
mining and tourism.
Meanwhile the envoy is the first Suriname Ambassador to Ghana and by extension, Africa.
Story By: Henry George Martinson/radiogoldlive.com
