Accra, Feb. 9, GNA – Ghana has appealed to the international community and development partners to support Guinea-Bissau to break the cycle of instability which has affected her in recent times to ensure political stability and economic recovery.
Ms Hannah Serwaah Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said the financial commitment required for the re-building of Guinea-Bissau was quite substantial, declaring that ‘as such I encourage us all to commit ourselves and resources to this cause’.
She said: ‘The hurdle ahead are daunting, but with your commitment to support the good people of Guinea-Bissau and with good-governance practices and sound economic policies, coupled with determination, a strong sense of self-belief and self-reliance, we shall succeed.’
Ms Tetteh made the appeal on Monday in Accra in her opening remarks at the preparatory meeting on an international donors’ conference to mobilise funds for Guinea-Bissau to be held next month in Brussels, Belgium.
The aim of the Accra preparatory meeting was, therefore, to deliberate on and explore effective co-ordination and harmonisation of the various international interventions, which are expected to ensure political stability and the economic recovery of Guinea-Bissau.
Ms Tetteh said in line with the directives of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, measures were taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission in collaboration with the African Union, the European Union, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, the International Organisation of Francophonie, and the United Nations to reactivate the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau (ICG-GB) as a veritable platform for co-ordinating development assistance to Guinea-Bissau’s reform process.
She said it was for this reason that the 10th Session of the ICG-GB was held in New York on November 18, 2014.
Ms Tetteh said the meeting took note of the reform priorities being undertaken by Guinea-Bissau Government and reiterated the importance of the ongoing institutional reforms in that country to uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights.
She said, accordingly, the international community deemed it imperative to support the modest efforts being undertaken by the Guinea-Bissau Government to achieve the objectives outlined in the road-map.
She said the Guinea-Bissau Government was currently deeply engaged in the construction phase of the on-going reforms that would strengthen the stabilisation process.
Ms Tetteh, who is also the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, said the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau, whose mandate expired on December 31, 2014, had been extended for another six months with the retention of the existing force strength.
‘Given these prevailing circumstances and in the light of recent prospects of economic recovery and political stability in the country, it is imperative for the current tempo of enthusiasm by development partners to be sustained,’ the Minister said.
‘In this regard, co-ordination and harmonisation by partners would be key to sustenance of reforms,’ she said.
Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, ECOWAS Commission President, in a speech read on his behalf, appealed to all ECOWAS bilateral and multilateral partners and friend of Guinea-Bissau, in like manner, to consolidate the foundations of Guinea-Bissau’s development prospects.
Mr William Hanna, Head of the European Union delegation to Ghana, said the support of the international community was very critical to reinstate Guinea-Bissau on the path of sustainable development.
Mr Domingos Simoes Pereira, Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, led his country’s delegation to the conference.
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