Ms. Shirley Botchwey engages with leaders of Cyprus

Ghanaian Foreign Minister Ms. Shirley A. Botchwey have hosted a meeting in  Nicosia with leaders of Cyprus; President Nikos Christodoulides and Dr. Konstantinos Kombos, paving the way for a stronger partnership between the two countries.

“We must explore trade opportunities between our two countries. I would recommend a visit by a Cypriot business mission to come to Ghana and explore mutually-beneficial opportunities under AfCFTA,” Ms. Botchwey said.

The meeting took place at the Cypriot foreign ministry headquarters, where the three diplomats discussed a range of areas, including trade, maritime security, education, fisheries, tourism, and smoother visa protocols. The framework for political consultations is expected to facilitate cooperation between the two nations.

Ms. Botchwey briefed Dr. Kombos and his team on the opportunities offered by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Ghana. She encouraged a visit by a Cypriot business mission to explore mutually beneficial opportunities under AfCFTA. The African trade bloc has the potential to boost trade between Cyprus and Ghana.

“We must make sure that the wealth of the Commonwealth becomes common for all its members,” Ms. Botchwey said.

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Dr. Kombos commended Ghana for its stance on international law during its two-year tenure on the UN Security Council, which ended in 2023. He emphasized the importance of the Commonwealth as a powerful organization that needs a new approach to achieve its goals.

“The Commonwealth is a powerful organization, but it needs a different outlook and a new approach to make it even more impactful,” Dr. Kombos said.

Ms. Botchwey agreed, stating that the Commonwealth must be felt beyond election monitoring and Commonwealth Games. She emphasized the need to support young people, provide them with skills training and financial support for innovation and start-ups to stem the tide of illegal migration.

“We must make sure that the Commonwealth supports young people; we must train them in skills and provide them with financial support for innovation and start-ups” to stem the tide of illegal migration,” Ms. Botchwey said.

The Ghanaian Foreign Minister highlighted that over 60% of the Commonwealth’s 2.6 billion people are under thirty years old, making it essential to focus on their development.

President Christodoulides welcomed Ms. Botchwey’s vision for the Commonwealth, which includes promoting trade and investment within the organization and addressing the devastating economic impact of Climate Change on vulnerable Small Island Developing States and Small States.

“The future of young people in the Commonwealth is one of my pillars… We must support them in skills training, financial support for innovation and start-ups” – Ms. Botchwey

Currently, trade between Ghana and Cyprus stands at $1.8 million as of 2022. However, there are opportunities for growth through partnerships and collaborations.

The A.G. Leventis Foundation, an offshoot of a former corporate organization in Ghana, provides funding for wildlife conservation through the Ghana Wildlife Society and supports youth in agriculture through the University of Ghana and related research centers.

The meeting marked an important step towards strengthening ties between Cyprus and Ghana, with both countries looking forward to exploring new areas of cooperation that benefit their citizens.

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