Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ghanaian Times
Published on 2024-02-20 07:36:32
The 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) took place at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. The theme of the session was ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa.’
During her remarks at the session, Minister Botchwey emphasized the long overdue operationalization of the African Humanitarian Agency. She noted that the continent faces various degrees of humanitarian crises, stemming from conflicts or natural disasters, and stressed the need for an agency to coordinate and lead humanitarian efforts in order to prevent duplication of efforts and ensure the efficient use of resources.
Additionally, Ms. Botchwey backed the delegation of powers from the Assembly to the Executive Council to consider and adopt the structures of the African Humanitarian Agency and the African Inclusive Markets Excellence Centre during the 44th Ordinary Session.
The minister also expressed Ghana’s support for the decision for the AU Commission to repatriate funds in the United States of America and Europe to the continent and advocated for the principle of equitable representation in the location of AU bank accounts on the continent.
In addition to her participation in the AU Executive Council Meeting, Minister Botchwey took part in a consultative session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministerial Committee for its Member States’ Applications for International and Regional Statutory Positions. She also held a bilateral meeting with the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Jacob Blitehstein, to discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
Ghana’s commitment to the African Union and its aims, including achieving greater unity and solidarity among African countries and their people, as well as the attainment of an enhanced regional developmental status through the AU Agenda 2063, was reiterated.
Overall, Minister Botchwey’s participation in the 44th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council was an important opportunity for Ghana to engage in discussions and decision-making processes that are crucial to the advancement and solidarity of the African continent.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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