The Fifth Session of the Ghana-Namibia Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) has been held to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest for the socio-economic development of the two countries. The Session was held in Swakopmund, Namibia from 2nd to 4th July, 2024.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to further cooperate in areas such as Foreign Service Training, Agriculture, Mining, Health, Transport and Energy. Other areas were the arts, education, child protection, marginalised communities and youth development. The rest were Sports, Trade, Justice, Correctional Services, Peacekeeping, and Regional/Local Government Administration and Development.
Ghana’s delegation was led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Namibian side was led by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon. Dr. Peya Mushelenga.
During the PJCC, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey underscored the strong partnership and shared vision between Ghana and Namibia, as well as their commitment to fostering peace, prosperity, and progress.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of establishing monitoring mechanisms to ensure successful implementation of the various Memoranda of Understanding which have been signed between the two countries.
On his part, Hon. Dr. Peya Mushelenga, emphasised that the PJCC should be viewed within the larger and common objectives which the founders of the African Union firmly advocated for, namely unity, decolonisation and the economic emancipation of the African people. He expressed the hope that the meeting would form and consolidate building blocks for the attainment of “The Africa We Want” and was hopeful that through the PJCC, the two countries would further strengthen bilateral relations, enhance cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges.
The two Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation between Ghana and Namibia and expressed the desire to elevate the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation to a Bi-National Commission to be co-chaired by the Presidents of the two countries.
The PJCC culminated in the signing of an MOU between the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and Namibia’s International Women’s Peace Centre. The MoU focuses on cooperation in the areas of technical capacity building, training, policy research and analysis on Women, Peace and Security as well as Peacekeeping and Peace Support Operations.
As part of her working visit to Namibia, Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey also participated in the 9th edition of the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAiTEX) which had in attendance the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Nangolo Mbumba and the President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Mokgweetsi Masisi.
In her address, Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey reiterated the need for African countries to maximise the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by making African products the preferred products globally. She further stressed on the need to link AfCFTA and other free trade agreements within the Commonwealth to harness collective resources and capabilities towards an efficient market in trade and services, job creation, and prosperity for all Africans.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
