Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, will carry out a tour of three West African countries from 11 to 13 January 2022.
More particularly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will visit Ivory Coast (Abidjan, 11.01.2023), Ghana (Accra, 12.01.2023) and Gabon (Libreville, 13.01.2023). During his stay in the above countries, the Minister is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with senior officials.
In the context of his visit to Ivory Coast, the first ever visit of a Greek Foreign Minister to the country, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to hold talks with his counterpart Kandia Camara. In addition, the Minister is scheduled to be received by President Alassane Dramane Ouattara. Furthermore, he is expected to meet with executives of the Africa Development Bank, and he will visit the Interregional Maritime Security Institute (ISMI) at the port of Abidjan.
On January 12, during his second visit to Ghana (the first one took place in November 2021), the Minister of Foreign Affairs will hold a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorktor Botchwey in Accra. During his stay in Ghana, the Minister will visit the St. Nicholas Greek School in Tema, which is supported by donations from Greek entrepreneurs operating in Ghana.
On Friday, January 13, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will carry out his second visit to Gabon (the first one took place in November 2021). During his stay in Libreville, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will hold talks with his counterpart, Michael Moussa-Adamo. The Minister is scheduled to be received by the President of the country, Ali Bongo Ondimba. In addition, he will have a meeting with the Minister of Forests, Oceans, Environment and Climate Change, Lee James Taylor White, to discuss, inter alia, the promotion of the 9th International "Our Ocean Conference 2024" to be hosted by our country. It is noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Gabon made a working visit to Athens last July.
During Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ tour to the above three West African countries, the signing of Memoranda of Understanding on bilateral cooperation in various sectors is being scheduled.
Talks are expected to focus on further enhancing Greece's cooperation with these countries in a wide range of areas, including the economy, investment, and culture.
In addition, the discussions are expected to cover Greece's cooperation with these countries, within international organisations as well, so as to address common challenges, on the basis of the adherence to International Law, including the International Law of the Sea.
It is noted that this is the sixth trip of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as his fourth trip to West Africa, which demonstrates the importance that the Greek government attaches to the strengthening of our country's relations with this region.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic.
