Ghana and Zambia have agreed to enhance their bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of trade and investment, following a visit by Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Botchwey to Lusaka. Ms. Botchwey met with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday and discussed various issues of mutual interest, including her candidacy for the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General.
The two countries signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to facilitate and promote commercial, economic, cultural, technical, scientific and political cooperation. They also agreed to cooperate in defense matters, such as training and development. Ms. Botchwey expressed her appreciation for Zambia’s support for her bid to lead the 56-member organization, which comprises mostly former British colonies.
“Ghana and Zambia go back a long way, all the way to the years of our independence struggles led by Presidents Nkrumah and Kaunda,” Ms. Botchwey said, recalling the historical bonds between the two nations. She added that Ghana was ready to share its experience and expertise with Zambia in various sectors, such as agriculture, mining, energy, and tourism.
President Hichilema welcomed Ms. Botchwey’s visit and praised Ghana’s role in advancing democracy and development in Africa. He said trade and investment were particularly important for both countries, as they were key to ensuring political stability and economic growth. He also commended Ms. Botchwey for her vision for a “new Commonwealth” that would focus on harnessing ICT, innovation, and skills for job creation, addressing climate change and migration challenges, and enhancing trade and investment opportunities.
The visit by Ms. Botchwey was part of her tour of some African countries to seek their support for her Commonwealth candidature. She had earlier visited Malawi, where she received a warm reception from President Lazarus Chakwera, who said her candidature was “well-received” by his country. She is expected to visit other countries in the coming weeks to drum up more support for her bid.
Ghana and Zambia are among the 21 African countries that belong to the Commonwealth, which has a combined population of 2.6 billion people and an annual GDP of over US$13 trillion. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is scheduled for October 2024 in Samoa, where a new Secretary-General will be elected to replace the incumbent, Baroness Patricia Scotland, whose second and final term ends in 2024.
The two countries are also members of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create a single market for goods and services and boost intra-African trade and integration. Ghana hosts the secretariat of the AfCFTA, while Zambia is one of the first countries to ratify the agreement. Both countries have expressed their commitment to implementing the AfCFTA and enhancing their trade relations.
Ghana and Zambia have a long history of friendship and cooperation, dating back to the colonial era when they supported each other’s liberation movements. Over the years, they have maintained close diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties, and have exchanged several high-level visits. The two countries have also collaborated in regional and international fora, such as the African Union, the United Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
The latest visit by Ms. Botchwey is expected to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Ghana and Zambia, and open up new avenues for cooperation in various fields. It is also hoped that it will boost Ms. Botchwey’s chances of becoming the next Commonwealth Secretary-General, and give Africa a stronger voice and representation in the global arena.
Source: MyJoyOnline
