EU Ambassador To Ghana End 3 Year Duty Tour – Calls on Foreign Minister
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Diana Acconcia, paid a farewell call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on 6th July, 2021, following the end of her 3 year tour of duty as Head of the EU Delegation to Ghana.
The Honourable foreign Minister congratulated the EU Ambassador on her successful completion of her tour of duty in Ghana.
The bilateral relations between Ghana and the EU witnessed active engagements and growth during the tenure of the Ambassador Honourable Ayorkor said.
She lauded the Ambassador for the successful organization of the annual Ghana-EU Political Dialogues, which enhanced relations between the EU and Ghana and afforded both sides the opportunity to discuss pertinent issues of mutual interest.
The increasing level of development assistance that Ghana receives from the EU, a reflection of the strong relations which exist between the two sides and further mentioned that the development cooperation supports critical programmes towards Ghana’s socio-economic development.
The signing of an 87- million-euro special emergency budget support financing agreement between Ghana and the EU in 2020 to assist the country in its response to the COVID-19 Crisis are indicators of the Ambassador’s roles she played in making such a reality.
Honourable Shirley Ayorkor commended the EU for its funding of the COVAX facility, which made it possible for low and middle-income countries such as Ghana to benefit from the COVID-19 vaccines, in line with the EU’s commitment to ensure equitable access to the vaccines.
She again lauded the Ambassador for the launch of the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on Sustainable Cocoa by the European Commission, which seeks to deliver concrete recommendations to promote sustainability across the cocoa supply chain through collective actions and partnerships.
Ghana will continue to collaborate with the EU and other stakeholders to attain a sustainable cocoa production that promotes good forest cover, eliminates child labour as well as secure the socio-economic well-being of cocoa farmers.
She highlighted the importance of the official presentation of the Final Report of the 2020 EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Ghana by Chief Observer, MEP Javier Nart in Accra on 12th April, 2021, as the recommendations therein will facilitate improvement in Ghana’s democratic governance.
Honourable Ayorkor lauded the EU support for peace and security within West Africa region and the Sahel as well as EU commitment to the multilateral system, with the UN at its core, alongside other regional organisations, especially the AU, ECOWAS, and the G5 Sahel in the maintenance of international peace and security, and the EU’s involvement in and commitment to resolving the crisis in Mali and maintaining security in the sub-region.
She again acknowledged the outgoing EU Ambassador for her interventions in realizing the recent visit of H.E. the President of the Republic to Brussels in May, 2021, during which mutually beneficial bilateral talks were held with the European Commission Executive Vice President for an Economy that works for People and the EU Commissioner for Trade, Commissioner for International Partnerships and Secretary-General of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
The President’s visit culminated in :
• The announcement of the proposed delisting of Ghana from the EU anti-money laundering blacklist;
• Proposal of the EU to select Ghana as a possible manufacturing hub for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa;
• Signing of a €170 million EIB facility for the establishment of the Development Bank of Ghana; and
Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey concluded by urging the outgoing EU Ambassador to continue to be an advocate for Ghana within the EU and extended best wishes for her continued success in all her future endeavours.
