The Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Ghana, Her Excellency Ms. Diana Acconcia paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey in welcoming the Ambassador also congratulated her for successfully presenting her credentials to His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. She stated that the European Union(EU) is an important partner in Ghana’s development and Ghana recognizes the role the Union has played over the years with regards to good governance, policy and implementation of programmes.
She urged the EU to support policies that would ensure rapid development, citing the “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda as one of such policies. She noted that the concept for the agenda was targeted towards making Ghana a reliant country, and in this regard called for closer collaboration between the EU and Ghana.
She said the President of the Republic is also encouraging the rest of Africa to embrace an “Africa Beyond Aid” agenda which would lead to the accelerated development of the continent.
The Minister reiterated that initiatives such as the “Planting for Food and Jobs”, “One village One dam” and value addition to crops would ensure a speedy development of the country.
Hon. Botchwey noted that illegal migration which the youth engaged in at the peril of their lives is of great concern to the government and added that efforts were being made to create employment for the youth so that they can stay and help with the country’s development. She added that President Akufo-Addo has launched the Nation Builders Corps programme (NaBCo) and inducted the first batch of one hundred thousand (100,000) personnel to work in key sectors of the economy.
Her Excellency Ms. Acconcia in her remarks, stated that she was ready to work with the government to achieve Ghana’s growth and development agenda. She added that the EU would dialogue with the government and exchange ideas on key issues which touch on migration, agriculture, climate change, economic partnership, trade agreements, sustainable development, security and other international issues of mutual interest.
©IPAB