As part of efforts to enhance the existing cordial bilateral relations with Zambia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, together with a delegation, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, on Tuesday, 13th February 2024.

During the visit, she delivered a Special Message to President Hakainde Hichilema from the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Ms Ayorkor Botchwey also seized the opportunity to officially seek Zambia's support for her candidature to the post of the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth at elections to be held during the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa in October 2024.

The Minister highlighted the consensus among Member States, which had confirmed that it was Africa's turn to nominate a candidate, a matter deliberated upon during the 26th CHOGM in Kigali, Rwanda.

Ms Botchwey took the opportunity to share her vision for the Commonwealth with her host, which included trade and investment, youth, education, skills, innovation and startups, mobility and labour markets, climate change, small states/island states, and managing resources for an effective Commonwealth institution.

President Hakainde Hichilema welcomed the opportunity offered by the bilateral visit aimed at strengthening relations between Ghana and Zambia, undergirded by the shared ideals of advancing Africa's unity and development.

He fondly recalled his visit to Ghana in 2023, which demonstrated the ongoing deepening of relations between Ghana and Zambia. President Hakainde Hichilema reaffirmed Zambia's commitment to implementing the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed to achieve tangible benefits for the people of both countries.

President Hakainde Hichilema mentioned that he was pleased to learn of the nomination of Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey as Ghana's candidate for the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth post.

He added that her candidacy would be given the necessary consideration and commended the unity displayed by the African bloc of the Commonwealth in Kigali during the 26th CHOGM, which had allowed Ms Botchwey to aspire to lead the organisation.

He further indicated that it was time for African leadership to spearhead significant discussions on the multilateral stage. President Hichilema also concurred with Ms Botchwey's vision to reorient the Commonwealth to work for all member states, especially in the sphere of trade and investment, as well as to nurture the talents of young people of the Commonwealth.

He believed fostering a robust economy through trade and investment holds limitless potential for sustainable growth.

The visit culminated in the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of Defence Cooperation, Political Consultation, as well as the agreed Minutes of the Inaugural Session of the Permanent Joint Commission on Cooperation (PJCC) between Ghana and Zambia, which was held in April 2023.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs signed for Ghana, while the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, signed for Zambia. This brought the number of MoUs signed between Ghana and Zambia from July 2023 to date to 13.

The Foreign Minister of Ghana commended officials of both countries for their dedication in finalising the MOUs and emphasised the significance of their implementation.

She also added that there were ongoing discussions regarding a visa exemption agreement between Ghana and Zambia, as well as MoUs in other sectors.