The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has requested Japan’s assistance in Ghana’s application for a non-permanent position on the UN Security Council from 2022 to 2023.
The Foreign Minister also urged Japan to accept Ghana’s application for inclusion in the United Nations Board on Narcotic Drugs for the years 2022-2025, as well as the International Narcotics Control Board for the years 2022-2027.
When Mr Himeno Tsutomu, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, paid her a courtesy call in Accra, Madam Botchwey made the offer.
The meeting, which took place at Mr Himeno’s request, enabled the Minister to brief the Ambassador on the Akufo-Addo Administration’s priorities for the second term.
On the UN Security Council Reform, the Minister said that Ghana places a high value on global governance, which is why Ghana has been a vocal supporter of UN changes to make it more inclusive and representative in order to resolve the diverse problems of international peace and security.
She recounted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo played a crucial role in the processes that contributed to the Ezulwini Consensus, and she vowed that Ghana will continue to obey it and work closely with Japan to drive the negotiations forward in the right direction.
Madam Botchwey praised the two countries’ long history of cooperation and support for each other’s candidacies for roles at different multilateral organizations, and shared the expectation that the cooperation and support will continue.
She conveyed her gratitude to the Japanese government for the enormous help and assistance it had given to successive Ghanaian governments in their diplomatic ties, and she pledged to work with Mr Himeno to further deepen the relationship centered on respect, unity, and progress.
Strengthening diplomatic relations, deepening commercial, trade, investment, and technological cooperation, fostering cultural partnership, and coordination on global issues are the Minister’s top priorities for Ghana-Japan relations.
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In terms of bolstering diplomatic links, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey reported that the government wanted to facilitate high-level visits and exchanges between Ghanaian and Japanese leaders at all stages.
Ministers of State have been urged to communicate further with their Japanese colleagues, and the Ambassador has been invited to assist in promoting those engagements where necessary, she added.
She shared her hope that the two sides will collaborate to ensure that Prime Minister Yoshohide Suga visited Ghana next year.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said the creation of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Accra in December 2020 and the Japan-Ghana Business Council in December 2019 is indicative of the two countries’ shared effort to boost trade and investment development.
Mr. Himeno briefed the Minister on the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which will be held in Tunisia in 2022, as well as the Nutrition Summit, which will be held in Japan in December 2021.
He discussed current topics of concern to Japan, such as UN Security Council Reform, North Korea, and Japan’s commitment to peace and security in Africa, as well as infrastructure partnership initiatives in Ghana, such as the Tema Motorway Roundabout upgrade (phase two).
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
