Ghana is still a safe country; Ayorkor Botchwey tells Ghanaians in China
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has given an assurance that isolated cases which occur in the country do not make Ghana unsafe.
She said Ghana was a very safe country and people should not entertain any fears, get worried or panic about any events since the country was still very secure and peaceful.
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“What we should be worried about is the acts of terrorism and barbaric attacks which are visited on our neighbouring countries,” she said.
Ms Botchwey gave the assurance when she addressed Ghanaians living in Guangzhou in the Guandong Province of China.
The meeting formed part of the minister’s schedule to China where she attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China.
Answering questions posed by Ghanaians, the minister asked them not to be too worried about insecurity and safety they read on social media.
She recalled certain statements and said people are killed every day in some countries, people are mugged, others have been stabbed, yet people still live there and people still travel there.
We could also say that those countries are unsafe, the minister noted.
High-level visits
In an answer to a question on how beneficial high-level visits by Ghanaian officials to foreign countries, including China had been, the minister said such visits had yielded very positive results.
She observed that a number of projects, programmes and facilities in Ghana had been as a result of such high profile visits.
Ms Botchwey said FOCAC, for instance, was one important area of benefit to Ghana.
President Xi’s pledge
She referred to the pledge of US$60 billion by the President of China, Mr Xi Jinping in financial support to African countries.
Ms Botchwey, who earlier cut the tape to officially open a new Consulate in Guangzhou,observed that the opening of the consulate was as a result of her visit to China last year.
During that visit, she said, she met the Vice Governor of the Guangdong Province, Mr Ouyanf Weimin, and requested assistance to acquire land for an office building.
In her address, she reiterated her appeal and urged the governor’s office to give it a priority consideration to further deepen the cooperation and friendship between Ghana and China.
Responding to the question of the issuance of the national identity cards to Ghanaians living outside the country, the minister said there were arrangements for the exercise to be undertaken outside the country, once it had been completed back home.
Be ambassadors
Ms Botchwey advised Ghanaians living outside to become ambassadors of Ghana, lead decent lives and desist from all forms of negative practices or vices.
She advised Ghanaians who travel outside to do business or seek business partners, as well as those with resident permits to be law-abiding.
“Please be good ambassadors of Ghana in this country, to enhance our relations with China,” she urged.
She assured them that Ghana was ready to support them, adding that Ghana was equally ready to sanction the bad lots among them to preserve the country’s good name abroad.