Ghana has signed two communiques establishing diplomatic relations with Madagascar and St. Lucia, and reached a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement with Trinidad and Tobago.
Ghana’s foreign minister Shirley Botchwey, signed the diplomatic relations communiques with Madagascar and St. Lucia at brief ceremonies on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
Her Malagasy and St. Lucian counterparts, Ms Rasata Rafaravavitafika and Mr Alva Baptiste signed for their respective countries.
Ms Rafaravavitafika and Ms Botchwey discussed the prospects and advantages of intra-Africa trade.
Ms Rafaravavitafika said Madagascar would sign on to the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) pact next month. Ghana was an early signatory to the historic trade agreement, and hosts the AfCFTA secretariat in its capital, Accra.
Ms Botchwey and Dr Amery Browne, foreign minister of Trinidad and Tobago, signed an Agreement on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment (ARPPI)
“I’m delighted we could do this today,” said Dr Browne. “Indeed, it’s a great day,” Ms. Botchwey responded as they shook hands and exchanged documents.
The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade through reciprocal economic co-operation, respect for investors’ rights and the prevention of unlawful expropriation.
Although trade between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago is limited, the Caribbean nation’s Republic Bank is operational in Ghana where it has a growing footprint.
The two also discussed the up-coming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due in four weeks in Samoa.
Ms Botchwey is considered the leading candidate among three contestants for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, to replace Baroness Patricia Scotland of Dominica.
Ms Botchwey also held bilateral talks earlier with Lord Collins, British Under-Secretary of State of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the foreign minister of Grenada, Mr Joseph Andall.
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