Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway has justified President Akufo-Addo’s frequent trips out of the country citing how citizens benefit massively from it.

According to the minister, Ghana is now benefitting enormously from the president’s trips as bilateral and economic relations has been established with several countries across the continent.

Explaining the rationale behind it, Ayorkor Botchway said these trips are consistent with efforts to substantially deepen Ghana’s international diplomatic footprint and strengthen bilateral relations with other countries in pursuit of the country’s national interest.

Speaking to the media at Tuesday’s edition of ‘Meet The Press’, the Foreign Affairs Minister said President Akufo-Addo’s tours to several countries within the ECOWAS sub-region culminated in decisions on the establishment of Permanent Joint Commissions for Cooperation (PJCC) and further developed the personal relationships with his counterparts and deepen bilateral relations.

Giving examples of the benefits, she said Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have been able to come to an agreement by signing the Abidjan Declaration on the production and marketing of cocoa where both countries have agreed to coordinate a standard price that gives them more control over the market value and their earnings from the sales of the crop.

Furthermore, she indicated that the trips facilitated the participation of Ghana in various continental fora including Ordinary Sessions of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union which lead to Ghana signing the Continental Free Trade Agreement and many more deals.

Also, with relations to South Africa, a joint statement of intent was signed regarding technical cooperation in the field of strategic railway infrastructure development and also the ongoing discussions for a ninety-day visa exemption for ordinary passport holders on reciprocal basis. Currently, diplomats and other state officials can travel to South Africa without visa but citizens with ordinary passports need visas in order to enter.

On bilateral relations with countries in the Middle East, the Minister said Ghana witnessed significant improvement particularly in the areas of education, trade and investment, employment, tourism, and infrastructural development.

In Asia, Ghana and India reached an agreement where a $30 million facility from EXIM Bank of India to finance the rehabilitation and upgrading of portable water system in Yendi; $150 million facility to finance and strengthen the Agriculture Mechanisation services in the country.

Moreover, Ghana’s bilateral relations with China made the country benefit from projects like the Sinohydro deal, participation of Chinese companies in 1D1F, Sinotruck assembly plant and Tamale interchange.

Relations with Cuba also gave the country a boost with the Cuban government training over 3000 Ghanaians in various fields of study and the construction of a bio-larvacide factory in Savelugu in the Northern Region to fight against malaria.

These and many more high-level official visits exchanged in 2017, 2018 and 2019 she said, boosted Ghana’s international standing citing how a number of MoUs were signed to establish businesses and other investments in the country.

According to her, "There are so many benefits so I can assure that these trips are not vacation trips or frivolous trips or any such thing. It comes with great benefits and it is creating a lot towards our development of our country".