ACCRA, 5th June, 2023 – Ghana and the BENELUX Union, consisting of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, have pledged to enhance their cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. This commitment was made during a joint working visit to Ghana, where Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, held discussions with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BENELUX Union.
The discussions, which took place in Accra, focused on expanding the spheres of cooperation between Ghana and the BENELUX countries. During a press briefing following the discussions, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey emphasized the longstanding relations between Ghana and the BENELUX countries and praised the shared efforts to deepen cooperation. Regional security was a key topic, and Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey acknowledged the contributions of the BENELUX countries in addressing terrorism and violent extremist activities in the Sahel and West Africa sub-region.
In terms of trade, Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey encouraged businesses in the BENELUX countries to form partnerships with Ghanaian counterparts and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The discussions were expected to contribute to strengthening the relations between Ghana and the BENELUX Union, as well as between Ghana and the individual countries.
The BENELUX Foreign Ministers, in turn, praised the Accra Initiative and pledged their support in addressing terrorism and violent extremism, with the aim of restoring peace and normalcy to affected countries in the sub-region. They also expressed their willingness to cooperate with Ghana at the multilateral level to tackle challenges such as climate change and food insecurity.
The meeting was attended by Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, officials from the Foreign Ministry, and a delegation from the BENELUX countries.
