The United Kingdom (UK) wants to work through the Commonwealth, a multilateral player with an unusually diverse membership, to respond to the collective challenges and opportunities that all nations will face, the British High Commissioner in Ghana, Mr Matthew Johnson, has said.
In a statement issued in Accra to mark Commonwealth Day, which fell on Monday, he said when UK’s Coalition Government came into office in May last year, it reviewed the UK’s engagement with the Commonwealth, and has committed to “an invigorated relationship leading to a more dynamic and modern institution”.
Mr Johnson also quoted Foreign Secretary, Mr William Hague, as stating that the UK saw its active membership of the Commonwealth as a key component of its foreign policy.
Mr Henry Bellingham, UK Minister for Africa, said during his visit to Ghana in February that “our bilateral relationship was based on
shared values and deep links between our peoples – as with the Commonwealth we have so much to gain from working together from our shared perspective on the world.
“We have the firm foundation of our bilateral relationship, a history of working together across a range of international issues
that we can take to the Commonwealth forum.”
Mr Johnson said on its own, Ghana already had a tremendous amount to offer the Commonwealth.
He said 2011 was a year full of opportunities for Ghanaian leadership in the organisation.
“As Chair of the Ministerial Action Group, Ghana is in a position to direct the way core Commonwealth values and principles are upheld.
And with Ghanaian influence on the Eminent Persons Group, through Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, Ghana has the opportunity to both influence the organisation’s future and raise the impact and profile of the
organisation on the world stage.”
He referred to next November Commonwealth Heads Summit in Perth, and said it would provide an opportunity for Commonwealth Heads of State and Government to address the issues of today and tomorrow and plot the course for the organisation’s future. Lord