We’re committed to deepening ties with Nordic countries — Ayorkor Botchwey

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI) has affirmed the nation’s commitment to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Foreign Missions of Nordic countries for their mutual benefit.

This would enhance trade and investment in the country between Nordic countries and Ghanaian businesses, promote human rights and democracy, peace and security, as well as action against climate change.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, made the commitment at a meeting with representatives of Foreign Missions of five Nordic countries when they paid a courtesy call on her in Accra last Wednesday.

The Nordic countries which were led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billström, included the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, and the State Secretary for International Development of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjaer. They were on a two-day joint working visit to Ghana.

They were also expected to call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for discussions on issues of mutual interest, as well as meet with Security Ministers and CSOs, among others. 

Context

The Nordic countries have working relations with African countries.

They host an annual African-Nordic Foreign Ministers meeting which provides a framework for informal and open dialogue on international issues relevant to both the Nordic region and Africa.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister attended the 21st session of the Nordic-African summit in Copenhagen in May this year.

Call for reforms

Addressing the media after the meeting, Ms Botchwey joined her colleagues to call for reforms of the UN Security Council “to reflect a more balance representation to enable the council to adapt and respond to new and evolving global challenges like climate change, novel pandemics and global terrorism”.

She said the current composition of the council with five permanent members had created an imbalance in its structure since the permanent members wielded veto power while 10 non-permanent elected members served a two-year term only.

The minister said the situation made it impossible for the council to fulfil its mandate to maintain international peace and security.

Partnership  

On trade and investment, Ms Ayorkor Botchwey urged the Nordic partners to promote trade liberalisation, explore new sectors of collaboration and encourage investment inflows to Ghana and Africa at large to harness the over 1.3 billion population within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  

She further entreated them to use their influence in development banks to help address the issue of climate justice for vulnerable countries such as Ghana while supporting African countries to access long-term and low-cost financing for accelerated development.

Pledge

The leader of the delegation, Mr Billström, pledged their determination to further strengthen partnership with Ghana with whom they have built close relations and traded for more than 60 years.

He lauded the government for its steadfastness in upholding international laws and also addressing global challenges, including climate change and countering the spread of violent extremism in West Africa.

Mr Billström said they would reinforce partnership with Ghana to beef up green and digital transition through a groundbreaking technology and innovation within various sectors for a more sustainable future.

“The implementation of the AfCFTA is imperative for increased regional integration of the continent and Africa's economic stability and sustainability,” he added.