Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has expressed his country’s readiness to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral ties with Ghana, as he received Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at the State House in Lilongwe on Monday.
The visit by Botchwey, who is also a candidate for the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, was aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two African nations and seeking Malawi’s backing for her bid.
Chakwera recalled the historical relations between Ghana and Malawi, dating back to the days of independence leaders Kwame Nkrumah and Kamuzu Banda, who shared a vision for a united and prosperous Africa.
He said Ghana and Malawi must intentionally promote their bilateral ties, which suffered some setbacks in the past, and work together on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
He also congratulated Botchwey on her nomination by Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and welcomed her candidature for the Commonwealth top job.
“I congratulate you on your nomination and I am confident that with your skills and expertise, you will be an asset to the Commonwealth,” he said.
He assured Botchwey that Malawi would take her appointment seriously and respond to Akufo-Addo’s request for support.
Botchwey thanked Chakwera for the warm reception and conveyed a message of goodwill from Akufo-Addo.
She said Ghana and Malawi have a lot in common and can collaborate in various sectors such as agriculture, trade, education, health, and tourism.
She also outlined her vision and priorities for the Commonwealth, which include climate change and climate financing, education, mobility in the labor market, and investment in the youth and startups.
She said she was offering herself as a candidate who would work to make the Commonwealth more relevant and beneficial to its members, especially the poorer countries in Africa, the Pacific, and the Caribbean.
She appealed to Malawi to endorse her candidature and join the growing number of African countries that have pledged their support for her.
Botchwey also met with her Malawian counterpart Nancy Tembo and discussed issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
The two ministers agreed to revive the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation between Ghana and Malawi, which was established in 2008 but has not been operational.
They also agreed to exchange high-level visits and explore areas of trade and investment opportunities.
Botchwey’s visit to Malawi was part of a two-nation tour that will also take her to Zambia.
She is expected to meet with Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema and Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues and seek their support for her Commonwealth bid.
The election for the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth will take place in October 2024 during the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
The current Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, will complete her second and final term in March 2024.
Source: Business Ghana
