The ceremony, which is the second to be celebrated in Ghana since the country joined the organisation of 88 member states in 2006, was on the theme: “321 million French speakers billions of cultural contents.”
The OIF refers to the global community of French-speaking peoples comprising a network of private and public organisations promoting equal ties among countries where French people played a significant historical role culturally, militarily or politically.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, speaking after inspecting a parade of 33 soldiers drawn from the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Armed Forces Central Band said it was essential to be committed to the OIF agenda as the organisation had over the years played an important role in the promotion of peace, democracy,
Ghana’s commitment
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, speaking after inspecting a parade of 33 soldiers drawn from the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Armed Forces Central Band said it was essential to be committed to the OIF agenda as the organisation had over the years played an important role in the promotion of peace, democracy, economic cooperation, among others.
She was accompanied by the Ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana, Maher Kheir, who doubles as the President of the group of Francophone ambassadors in the country.
The minister said Francophonie accounted for over 1.5 billion people, representing one-third of UN member countries, with Africa having the largest number of French speakers accounting for 55 per cent of the continental population and that Africa was a key to the future of La Francophonie.
She applauded the Secretary General of OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo, for her bold leadership and her flagship poverty alleviation initiative to assist women in distressed situations and the youth development programme aimed at involving the youth in governance issues as well as the Francophonie games.
The Ambassador of Lebanon hoisted the OIF flag while Ms Botchwey hoisted the Ghana Flag.
Source: myghanadaily
