The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (MP) will depart Accra on Thursday October 4, 2018 to the Japanese capital, Tokyo ahead of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting.

The 2-day Ministerial meeting which starts from October 6 – 7, 2018 is in preparation for the TICAD VII Summit which will be held in Japan in August 2019.

Sessions at the meeting will focus on the following:

1. Review progress related to the relevant pillars of TICAD V and VI and explore ways to promote economic diversification and structural transformation in Africa towards inclusive growth and sustainable development

2. Review progress made in relation to the second pillar of TICAD VI on building resilient health systems and promoting universal health coverage as well as sustainable and stable society to ensure human security

3.Review recent progress in strengthening connectivity in Africa and from various dimensions including infrastructure, digital, institutional and people-to-people connectivity.

As part of measures to initiate the process of setting the agenda for TICAD VII next year, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey will provide an assessment of overall development in the macroeconomics, social and environment situation in Ghana to the meeting.

Meanwhile, on the margins of the Ministerial meeting, the Hon. Minister will hold discussions with her Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono and other foreign diplomats

The Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is also expected to take part in several events including a science, technology and innovation program on open innovation to leapfrog Africa.

The TICAD Ministerial Meeting is held twice every year after each TICAD summit.