Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Tsutomu Himeno, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
The visit took place in the Minister’s Office in Accra on Thursday, July 25, 2019.
On the agenda for discussion during the visit were the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) scheduled to take place in August 2019 and the Ceremonies for the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito of Japan in October 2019.
Ghana’s First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo has been invited by the Government of Japan to attend the enthronement ceremony.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey while welcoming her guest, recalled the bonds of friendship and cooperation that have existed between Ghana and Japan since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations some six decades ago.
She expressed the hope that the bilateral relations between both nations would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.
The Foreign Minister seized the opportunity to thank the Government of Japan for its continued support for Ghana’s socio-economic development and for being one of Ghana’s reliable development partners over the years.
Furthermore, she expressed immense appreciation to the Government and People of Japan for the decision to provide $1.38 million Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship to Ghana for the year 2019.
According to her, the grant would go a long way to complement Government’s efforts to develop the country’s human resource capacity.
On the TICAD which she is expected to attend in August, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey indicated Ghana’s belief in the ideals of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) as manifested in the dual principle of Africa’s “ownership” of its developmental and international partnership in attaining the goals of Agenda 2063.
She was hopeful that TICAD 7, scheduled to be held in August 2019, would be successful and lead to the further strengthening of Japan’s relations with Ghana in particular, and Africa as a whole.
Meanwhile, she wished the Government and people of Japan a successful Enthronement Ceremony, and a long fruitful reign for the new Emperor.
Open Letters
In a related development, the Ambassador-Designate of the Kingdom of Morocco, Imane Ouaadil, presented her Open Letters to the Foreign Minister on Thursday, 25th July, 2019.
During the meeting, the Minister congratulated Ms. Ouaadil on her appointment.
BY Melvin Tarlue