‘Embassy opening will boost Qatar-Ghana ties’

The opening of the embassy of Ghana in Doha yesterday will go a long way in strengthening bilateral relations with Qatar, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said at the mission’s inauguration in West Bay area. A number of ambassadors, other diplomats, and senior officials of the Qatar Ministry for Foreign Affairs attended the inauguration.While appreciating the efforts of her Qatari counterpart HE the Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in facilitating the speedy opening of Ghana’s embassy in Doha, the Ghanaian Foreign Minister recalled the visit made to Ghana by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani last December and also remembered that a series of MoUs and agreements were signed in such areas as the youth and sports, culture, air services and protection of investments.“Within the context of the State visit to Ghana by the His Highness the Amir, there was also a follow-up visit to Accra in March by a technical team from various ministries in Qatar, that further sought to deepen the growing contemporary relations between Ghana and Qatar.”The minister said an important milestone in the growing relations between Ghana and Qatar was the appointment in March of a resident ambassador-designate of Qatar to Ghana. “In the light of these progressive developments in the relations between Ghana and Qatar, the opening of the embassy in Doha is very significant in several ways.”Botchwey said the support placed at the disposal of their country’s ambassador Emmanuel Enos and his team by Qatar government and the insightful guidance from the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry tremendously contributed to the speedy establishment of the new Ghana Mission. The Ghanaian Foreign Minister also remembered that her country’s embassy started functioning from the beginning of this year in Kuwait. “However, Ghana mission in Qatar has been set up in a record time and am so happy to be present here for its formal opening,” added the minister while thanking the assistance rendered by the Qatar Ministry for Foreign Affairs for its speedy opening.  The minister also commended her country’s ambassador Emmanuel Enos and his staff for a good work done for facilitating the mission’s opening. Botchwey singled out for praise one of the elders in the local Ghanaian community, Jamal Abdul Razak al-Hassan for his contributions in this regard.“I am confident that the Ghana Mission would synergise with the vibrant diplomatic community in Doha and take all the necessary steps in building right bridges for the advancement of the cherished ideals of the international community.” Botchwey also disclosed that she has been briefed by Qatari officials about the hard work, sense of discipline of her compatriots in Qatar  and she said they are living as worthy ambassadors of her country. “I entreat you to continue to hold high the name of our dear country by being law-abiding at all times and continue to distinguish yourselves in your various careers and professions in this country.”A source at the embassy told Gulf Times that there are about 8,000 Ghanians in Qatar.