President John Agyekum Kufuor has stated that any meaningful review of Ghana's foreign policy options must take into consideration the country's dreaded economic woes, which has compelled government to avail itself of the benefits of the HIPC initiative.
He stressed that if these factors are not taken into consideration, Ghana's foreign policy would become irrelevant and unguided.
The President stated this in a speech read on his behalf by Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister for Foreign Affairs at the opening ceremony of a two-day seminar on Ghana's foreign policy options in Accra yesterday.
He said Ghana's foreign policy under the NPP administration is based on the 1992 Constitution and his party's manifesto, which is aimed at restoring the dignity of the African.
According to him, his government's policy, therefore, aims at forging closer relations and co-operation with its neighbours.
To this end, Kufuor said it is only within the framework of understanding and peace, particularly within the West African sub-region, that the nation can pursue the economic, social and political goals that it has set for itself.
He observed that even though foreign policy has traditionally been considered to be far removed from the daily lives of the people and is often taken for granted, in reality, it is an important aspect of government that influences the lives of the ordinary citizen on the street.
He warned that Ghana's foreign policy should not be the exclusive preserve of the executive branch of government.
President Kufuor pointed out that it is his government's intention to re-launch Ghana unto the international plane as a significant player in international affairs.
He said Ghana would, therefore, continue to play its role in the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Commonwealth.
He stressed the need for the restructuring of the UN to reflect current realities of global power, equity and justice.
The permanent members of the UN Security Council, he said, must include more representatives in order to reflect geographical balance and a more democratic world.
Kufuor pointed out that while Ghana continues to value her membership of NAM, the organisation must now be turned into an association for mutual economic assistance and self advancement and an epitome of south-south co-operation.
He, however, mentioned that recent events in Washington and New York have reinforced the need for Ghana to fashion out a collective foreign policy response to terrorism.
But he noted that in the same way that it has been possible to gain support for the seizure of the funds of terrorist organisations in the developed countries, developed countries should also respond positively to calls by poor countries to help trace and seize funds looted from Africa by corrupt politicians, which are so badly needed for the improvement of the lives of the people.
On Ghana's Missions abroad, the President noted that his government is determined to bring Consular Services closer to Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians alike by creating effective cost-saving Honorary Consulates in various regions of the world.
He said steps are also being taken to ensure that qualified Ghanaian citizens can vote at Ghana Missions abroad during elections and referenda.
The seminar is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA).
