Staff Writer
James Cleverly, the UK’s foreign secretary, arrived in Ghana on Monday to begin a four-day trip to three African nations with the goal of fostering “future-focused, mutually beneficial” partnerships.
The Foreign Secretary announced in a government news release on Monday that the government “will pledge a £40 million boost for Ghana’s businesses, as [Cleverly] begins a trip to the country’s capital Accra.”
Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) will get the majority of the funds, which will be used to increase their access to business support services.
According to British government figures, Ghana is the UK’s fourth-largest export market in sub-Saharan Africa, with total UK imports from Ghana reaching £1.3 billion in 2022.
mining industry
Cleverly participated in the inauguration of the UK-Ghana Gold-Mining Program during his tour, which would support the Ghanaian government in formalizing and regulating the nation’s small-scale mining industry.
The program, which was approved by both countries during the UK-Ghana Security Dialogue in London last year, has been given £3.9 million ($5 million) by the British government.
The three-year program will aid Ghana’s initiatives to develop the industry. Community mining initiatives and programs for artisanal small-scale miners seeking alternative employment and livelihoods are some of the government’s current activities.
Cleverly said during the meeting, “I’m proud that the UK is working with you to do what is right and the people of your country to ensure that criminality cannot and will not thrive here.”
Counter-terrorism
In honor of the British minister, the Ghanaian army also conducted a counterterrorism training exercise.
His trip takes place just days after a coup in nearby Niger that caused worry around the world.
Dominic Nitiwul, Ghana’s minister of defense, criticized the coup leaders’ conduct, saying, “We cannot accept the use of force or arms by any individual or a group of individuals simply because they have arms […] No nation should accept that.”
The minister stated that should orders from “various armed forces across the globe,” the Ghana Armed Forces remain prepared to put down the coup.
Military leaders from Ghana and other West African nations have started discussions with the regional group ECOWAS about the potential sending of armed forces to Niger to restore constitutional order.
The British government stated in a statement on Sunday that it “condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger” and that it had suspended long-term development support to the nation.
Cleverly will visit Nigeria on Tuesday after his stop in Ghana, and on Thursday he will conclude his journey in Zambia.
