Egypt and Ghana Join Forces to Fight Terrorism

Egypt will continue to work together with Ghana to exchange views, experiences and knowledge on the threat of terrorism.
That is because Egypt and Ghana are facing similar challenges and have similar aspirations, and terrorism remains a threat to their aspirations.
The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Mohamed Heider, gave this assurance when he spoke to the Daily Graphic on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 or the National Day, which fell last Thursday.
The Ambassador said Egypt and Ghana were also two of the major African countries “when it comes to their role in promoting, adopting and defending the African Agenda.”
He observed that both countries were leading countries in the peace keeping forces within the United Nations in Africa Missions.
The Ambassador said Egypt would work closely with other countries to face such challenges together.
He said Egypt was doing everything possible to fight this ugly phenomenon that had now become a global challenge.
Mr Heider announced that Egypt was leading African efforts to intensify the dialogue between the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) to serve our African interests.
“Taking the challenges that face our beloved continent into consideration, peace and security will always be a priority to manage and face these threats,” he stated.
He noted that 2016 was specifically significant for Egypt as it took its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the Peace and Security Council of the AU, and was presiding over the UN Commission for Anti-Terrorism.
He noted that “as 70 per cent of the Security Council Agenda is related to African issues, Egypt has played and will always play a significant role to carry the voice of its African brothers and sisters in the UN, AU and other similar organisations. Last year saw important changes in Egypt in the path of our democratic transformation. A parliament has been elected and all institutions are now complete and fully functional.”
Addressing dignitaries at the Egypt House at Roman Ridge in Accra, the Egyptian Ambassador gave an assurance that Egypt was determined to launch mega projects to support its ambitious plans of economic transformation.
He said Egypt had hosted two big international investment conferences in the last two years to promote investment in both Egypt and Africa in general, and establish more links between the business people in this regard.
He recalled another mega project last year— the extension of the Suez Canal, turning the area around it into a prime economic and logistic hub to serve commerce, trade and transport among Africa, Europe, Asia and the rest of the world.
As part of the endless Egyptian efforts in the multilateral fora, Egypt hosted major events to push the African interests forward.
He announced that Egypt hosted the Tripartite Summit in Egypt last year to launch the free trade area between the three blocks (COMESA-SADCC-EACC) aimed at full free and comprehensive free trade area involving the whole continent.
The Ambassador commended the Egyptian companies operating in the various fields in the country, such as Euroget de-Invest, Egypt Air, Rafi Aluminium, El Sewedy Cables and Electrometers and Egyptpro.
Since the revolution of June 30, 2013, Egypt and many others are heading for Ghana to do business.
To cope with this demand and to help promote the bilateral relations, a commercial office will be opened at the Embassy next September, he announced.
Ambassador Heider expressed his country’s admiration and respect to the bright model of democracy in Ghana and the valuable role of President John Dramani Mahama, especially during his chairmanship of the ECOWAS last year, to promote and support the democratic transformation in West Africa.
He wished Ghanaians well as they prepared to choose new leadership and representatives in parliament at the general election that would take place before the end of the year.
As the Ambassador of Egypt, he said he would always be proud of the historic and friendly relations between the two countries, cemented by Mrs Fathia Nkrumah, the Egyptian First Lady of Ghana after independence. “That made us real family and in-laws,” he added.
The National Day was graced with the presence of ministers of state, Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps and the Egyptian community.
The leader of the Ghanaian delegation to Egypt’s National Day celebration, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, commended Egypt for stabilising and strengthening its democratic pillars, as exhibited in the successful organisation of its parliamentary election.
He said it was evident that Egypt was on its way to becoming a stalwart nation that upheld democratic values.
In that regard, he said Ghana joined hands with Egypt towards the achievement of a free and democratic country, where everyone had a stake in the country’s governance.