Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey returns today after a 3-day working visit to Israel which started on November 4, 2018, and ends today, November 7.Â
The visit follows an invitation from the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu who doubles as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel.
While there, the two envoys held discussions at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on the diplomatic and the bilateral relations that exist between the two countries.The Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs also had discussions with the Chair and Lobby for Relations between Israel and African Countries, MK Avraham Neguise.
Ahead of a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and a visit to the Western Wall, the minister was also given a tour of the Knesset which is Israel’s unicameral parliament, the country’s legislative body.
Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey is also expected to lay a wreath & sign the guest book at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.
Ghana was the first country from Black Africa to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in 1956, prior to independence when an Israeli consulate was established in the country.
After the overthrow of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Israeli military activities in Ghana ended, but Israel continued to aid Ghana in shipping, construction, security, research, manpower training, and agriculture.
However, in September 2011, Ghana and Israel renewed direct diplomatic relations and has since cooperated in various sectors including health and education.
“The visit by the Minister is expected to strengthen the long-cherished ties of friendship among the two nations where Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey will be expected to re-affirm the commitment of the Government of Ghana in an effort to deepen the bilateral relations that exist between the two countries and its peoplesâ€, a press release from the Ministry said.