Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, embarked on a working visit to the Republic of Malta on Monday, 15th July 2024. During her visit, she held bilateral meetings with top Maltese officials, including the President of Malta, H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Robert Abela, and the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Dr. Ian Borg.
The meetings aimed to strengthen existing bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation between Ghana and Malta. The two sides acknowledged the strong and cordial relations between the two nations, which have led to high-level visits from both sides.
The discussions focused on various sectors, including renewable energy, tourism, aviation, and the health sector, among others. Both parties expressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in these areas.
At the end of the fruitful deliberations, the leaders agreed to further enhance cooperation between Ghana and Malta. They identified initiatives that would increase trade, joint ventures in renewable energy, collaborative efforts in the tourism and aviation industries, educational exchanges, and the sharing of best practices in governance and economic development.
The leaders also underscored the need to take concrete steps to implement the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements that have been signed. This would ensure that the commitments translate into mutually beneficial outcomes.
Minister Ayorkor Botchwey seized the opportunity to inform her Maltese counterparts of her candidature for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. She shared her vision for the organization, emphasizing the need for a transformative agenda focused on building resilience to tackle contemporary challenges.
These challenges include stagnant economies, growing inequality, high youth unemployment, climate disasters, and threats to democracy and human rights. Malta plays an active role within the Commonwealth, and its leaders expressed readiness to continue contributing to enhancing the organization’s relevance.
The Maltese leaders assured Minister Ayorkor Botchwey of their support for her candidature, acknowledging her vision and commitment to the Commonwealth’s ideals. They expressed their confidence in her ability to lead the organization towards achieving tangible outcomes that benefit all Member Countries.
The working visit to Malta marked a significant milestone in strengthening the bilateral relations between Ghana and Malta. The agreements and commitments made during the visit are expected to yield positive outcomes for both nations.
The visit also highlighted the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing global challenges. Minister Ayorkor Botchwey’s candidature for the Commonwealth Secretary-General position underscores Ghana’s commitment to playing a leadership role in promoting sustainable development and democracy worldwide.
