General News of Thursday, 30 June 2011

Source: GNA

Conference of Heads of Ghana Missions on July 4

Accra, June 30, GNA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration will convene a three-day Conference of Heads of Ghana Missions in Accra from Monday, July 4-6.

It is on the theme, 93Enhancing our Diplomacy for a Better Ghana".

A statement issued by the Ministry in Accra on Friday said the Conference to be attended by all the 49 Heads of Missions and the management would review the Ministry's Strategic Outlook, evaluate the contribution of Ghana's Missions to the implementation of the Better Ghana Agenda.

In addition, the participants would elaborate measures and mechanisms for enhancing the Ministry's performance.

The statement said President John Evans Atta Mills would deliver the keynote address at the conference which would provide a unique platform for Ghana's diplomatic envoys to engage with Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Others are private sector institutions and other relevant national stakeholders in discussions on matters pertaining to the conduct of Ghana's international relations.

Issues to be discussed would include an overview of the performance of the national economy, focusing on Ghana's bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, harmonising Ghana's trade policy and investment code for economic transformation.

Other issues to be discussed are enhancing the competitiveness of made-in Ghana goods, market access strategies and trade promotional logistics for Ghana Missions, tourism infrastructure, Ghana's image and effective tourism promotion.

Participants at the biennial conference are expected to jointly develop new and more effective approaches to achieving the strategic objectives of Ghana's foreign policy.

Consequently, deliberations at the conference would be informed by Ghana's Shared Growth and Development Agenda and the urgent need to achieve higher economic growth rates, create employment, achieve food security and improve infrastructure and access to education and health.