H.E. MRS. SENA SIAW-BOATENG PAYS A COURTESY CALL ON H. E. MR. GEORGES REBELO PINTO CHIKOTI, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC STATES (OACPS)
Ghana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Head of Mission to the European Union (EU), H.E. Sena Siaw-Boateng on 8th July, 2020, paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, in the latter’s office in Brussels.
The meeting afforded an opportunity for their Excellencies to exchange views on various issues germane to the OACPS, including the priorities and strategies, which should underpin Ghana’s Chairmanship of the OACPS Ambassadorial Working Group (AWG) on Fisheries, ahead of the 7th Biennial Ministerial Meeting of OACPS Ministers responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture, which is scheduled to be held in Accra, Ghana, in 2021. Other matters which featured in the discussions were the ongoing restructuring of the OACPS Secretariat, the European Union (EU) blacklist of High Risk Third Countries for alleged deficiencies in their Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes and the recent appointment of Mr. Reginald Yofi Grant, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), as an External Independent Member of the Board of Directors of the OACPS’ Endowment and Trust Fund (ETF), to represent the West Africa Region.
Ambassador Siaw-Boateng disclosed to the Secretary General her determination to leverage the unique opportunity of chairing the AWG to highlight issues pertaining to the Blue Economy, the devastating effects of Climate Change on the environment, in particular, on aquatic life and livelihoods as well as the impact of rising sea level on the maritime boundaries for low lying coastal states and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and to advocate for critical support needed to strengthen OACPS countries capacities to tap into the varied opportunities presented by the EU Green initiatives.
On his part, H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti assured of the full support of the Secretariat, including providing the required technical and administrative expertise needed to ensure the effective execution of the activities of the AWG and a successful tenure of office for Ghana.
BRUSSELS, 8TH JULY, 2020