The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Cynthia Morrison has called on the International Community to support Ghana towards December 7 to ensure another historic, peaceful and credible general elections in Ghana.
The Minister was speaking at a Diplomatic studded reception at the High Commissioner’s residence in Accra to mark Australia’s National Day.
Australia National Day is marked on January 26, and represents the day in 1778 when the first fleet of 11 convict ships arrived in Sydney Harbour from England, therefore beginning the first settlement of Europeans on Australian soil.
Mrs. Morrison on behalf of President Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana sent compliments to the people of Australia on the occasion of their National Day, and also expressed Ghana’s condolences in the wake of the devastating news of massive bush fires that continue to ravage large portions of the country’s land.
The Gender Minister used the opportunity to speak of the government’s “beyond the return initiative’”, calling on the Australian High Commission to partner Ghana in its Cultural Co-operation and Investment Drive.
The Australian High Commissioner to Accra, Andrew Barnes spoke of the global support his country has received in the wake of the massive bush fires which he said ‘’have devastated more than 10 million hectares, nearly half the size of Ghana and about the size of Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium combined’’.
Mr. Barnes said despite the huge impact of the fires, Australia “remained open for business, and called on Ghanaians to continue to visit, study and invest in Australia”.
He announced that more than 10,000 Ghanaians’’ currently reside in Australia.
In a toast to continued friendly relations between Ghana and Australia, the Australian High Commissioner to Accra, Andrew Barnes also announced that his tenure ends in July, but he looks forward to Ghana holding another free, fair and peaceful elections in December this year.
