Ghana benefits immensely from Akufo-Addo’s travels – Ayorkor Botchwey

Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, has said it is of significance for President Akufo-Addo to keep travelling outside the country to sell investment opportunities to potential investors.

President  Akufo-Addo’s frequent travels abroad have been criticized by some Ghanaians.

Madam Ayorkor Botchway stated that although her ministry was capable of representing Ghana abroad, sometimes the President’s involvement is needed. She said this at a reception organized by her ministry for women government appointees.

“There are some things that you can do as a Foreign [Affairs] Minister, but there are many things you cannot do. They want to see the boss [President Akufo-Addo] himself.”

In the Minister’s view, the President’s engagements abroad have proven to be fruitful.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway “what matters is what he comes back with and whether there are befits to the travel.”

“On the number of occasions that the President has moved, it has gone to benefit this country a great deal so the President cannot sit in Ghana and expect people to move to him. He has to go and woo them. They want the President to actually come to them, talk to them, assume them and they will come and that is exactly what he is doing.” she added

In the most recent of these travels, Ghana has received a $57 million grant facility from Japan for phase two of the rehabilitation of the national trunk road, N8.

This was after the governments of Ghana and Japan signed an agreement after the holding of bilateral talks between President Akufo-Addo and Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 during a state visit to Japan.