Speaker Prof Mike Oquaye (right) presenting a gift to Sameh Shoukry after the visit
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, and promised his country’s readiness to partner Ghana in areas of culture, agriculture, aviation, trade and industry.
The Egyptian foreign minister who is on a working visit to the country was accompanied to the Speaker’s office by the Egyptian ambassador in the country, as well as some officials from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The foreign minister said he was in the country to reinforce the closer relationship between the two countries after Egypt experienced some political turbulence some six years back.
He said the country has now overcome that turbulence and has chalked some relative stability and systematic economic growth.
Sameh Shoukry commended Ghana for a peaceful transfer of power after a largely successful general election last year.
He said Ghana’s fledgling democracy has become a big success story for Africa and many African countries now look up to Ghana as a ‘shining star’ when it comes to functioning democracy.
He said his country will also be supporting the new government to ensure better governance.
Receiving the Egyptian foreign minister, the speaker said the relationship between Egypt and Ghana dates back to the days of President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and President Nasser of Egypt.
He said the two countries have maintained that mutual relationship and befitted greatly in the area of culture, economics and industry.
Prof Mike Oquaye appealed to the foreign minister to let his government encourage more women to participate in politics.
He said it was important for more Egyptian women to be encouraged to go to parliament.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament and MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, entreated the Egyptian foreign minister to help the country revive its aviation industry.
He said that it was possible for Egypt Air to partner Ghana to help resuscitate its airline operations
The Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Moses Anim, who was also at the meeting, appealed to the Egyptian foreign minister to help the government in its aim to establish a factory in each district of the country to help provide jobs for the teeming youth.
 By Thomas Fosu Jnr