Tag: Foreign Office

The UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) held its ninth meeting in Accra on 31 January 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency Alhaji, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the UK Minister for Development and Africa, Rt Honourable Andrew Mitchell MP.

The Council welcomed Ghana’s progress on reaching an agreement with the official creditor committee and completion of the first review of the IMF programme. Members acknowledged Ghana’s progress in implementing the programme, which has since resulted in improving economic stabilisation.

The UK assured council members of its continued support for a successful exit from the IMF programme, including through new programming developed in collaboration with the Government of Ghana targeting macro-economic resilience.

Council members discussed the global climate finance architecture and welcomed Ghana’s commitment to unlock climate financing to support a pipeline of impactful climate activities in areas such as carbon finance blends, EVs, shipping and a hydrogen economy.

The Council welcomed UK’s announcement of the Green Cities and Infrastructure Technical Assistance Programme for Ghana. The programme will focus on delivering climate finance, low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure, and support cities to become hubs of innovation while bolstering sustainable economic growth.

Members welcomed the successful auto sector investor mission, which took place from 22 to 26 January 2024. It brought together leading UK automobile companies to explore opportunities in Ghana’s auto sector. Against this backdrop, members agreed to work collaboratively to identify opportunities to support Ghana’s industrial transformation in the auto and E-mobility industry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and garments sector.

The Council welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK’s Society Motor Manufacturing and Traders’ Industry Forum and the Ministry of Trade’s Auto Development Centre agreeing to pursue skills, knowledge, and technology transfer partnerships, as part of the JET programme.

Members celebrated the first investments into Ghanaian businesses by British International Investment’s Growth Investment Partners fund. Council members witnessed the signing of the Science, Technology and Innovation MoU which will drive economic prosperity through science and technology.

The co-chairs acknowledged the significant progress the Council had made since its inception in 2018. Council members agreed to continue to advance work on the UKGBC priority sectors to deepen the UK-Ghana relationship, while it explores other areas such as climate finance and electric vehicles.

Members agreed to convene the next UKGBC meeting in summer of 2024.

Thank you, Mr Chair. It has been another week of brutal fighting in Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people valiantly continue to defend their country from Russia’s illegal act of aggression. We have observed throughout the period since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the violation of the key principles to which this Forum adheres. We note the clear and unequivocal contravention by Russia of International Humanitarian Law and the United Nations Charter; and we hear every week the flimsy justifications of Russia’s rationale for war. The truth of the matter is that there is no justification for this violent act, executed based on historical fantasies by Putin’s regime.

Russia’s grand vision to subjugate Ukraine within a matter of days, now almost two years on, has resulted in quite the opposite of what Russia envisioned. As a result of its heinous aggression, what exactly has Russia accomplished? Since the start of the full-scale invasion, it has lost approximately 2600 Main Battle Tanks and 4900 other Armoured Combat Vehicles.

Just this week, the Russian air force discharged munitions on its own territory for the fifth time; the fourth time this month. Whether this is the consequence of poor procedures or poor drills, one can only speculate. In all likelihood, it is a combination of both as the toll of fighting is felt by the Russian military. Since the start of Russia’s so-called ‘Special Military Operation’, its armed forces have suffered more than 300,000 casualties. During 2023, the average daily number of Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine increased from over 600 in 2022 to over 900 at its height in November 2023. Russia has lost nearly the same number of troops it mobilised to invade Ukraine in 2022, with new soldiers receiving inadequate training and its new commanders having little battlefield experience.

For this enormous investment in blood and treasure, Russia has become less secure and more desperate. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court. He has suffered the shock and humiliation of an attempted coup, and international isolation has pushed him towards reliance on pariah states like North Korea and Iran for lethal aid supplies.

Far from achieving Russia’s intended aims, its illegal war has solidified international resolve in support of Ukraine. Standing as a sentinel for democracy and freedom, Ukraine has successfully re-captured more than half of the territory illegally seized by Russia since February 2022. Crimea is no longer safe for Russian forces to launch attacks. The Russian Black Sea Fleet HQ in Sevastopol was destroyed and the strategically important port significantly degraded in its ability to support Russian maritime forces.

In truth, Russia’s so-called ‘Special Military Operation’, far from achieving its objectives, has succeeded in uniting democratic nations in defence of the values of sovereignty, territorial integrity and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Russia fails to appreciate that because these values are so cherished, there is no alternative but to support Ukraine in its defence of them. Russia is seriously mistaken if it believes that it can divide and conquer, corrosively wearing away at the principles which unite us. The prospect of not standing united in the face of Russia’s aggression is too dark to contemplate. A Russian victory would usher in a new era of global instability. This is why the United Kingdom, with its allies, will support Ukraine today, tomorrow and into the future; for as long as it takes.

Joint statement by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs on behalf of the European Union, marking 3 years since the military coup in Myanmar:

Three years ago, on 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military overthrew the democratically elected government, undoing a decade of progress.

Under the military regime, violence against civilians has escalated, with thousands jailed, tortured and killed. Airstrikes, shelling and arson have been used to destroy civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, healthcare facilities and places of worship. Systematic discrimination against members of religious and ethnic groups, including Rohingya, is rife. Many are displaced and continue to face horrific conditions, and others have been forced to flee across Myanmar’s borders. The military’s actions have fuelled a growing humanitarian crisis with 2.6 million people displaced from their homes, and more than 18 million people in need.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the military regime’s ongoing atrocities and human rights violations, such as sexual and gender-based violence, and the restriction of fundamental freedoms including freedom of expression, through peaceful protests and the media. We reiterate our call for the Commander-in-Chief and the military to change course, immediately ceasing violence against civilians, releasing all unjustly detained political prisoners, allowing full humanitarian access and creating space for inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders.

We strongly encourage unified efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to resolve the crisis. We commend the constructive efforts of the ASEAN Chairs and Special Envoys. We call on the military regime to implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and engage meaningfully and positively with ASEAN representatives, in order for Myanmar to transition towards an inclusive democracy.

We continue to support the full implementation of United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 2669 (2022) and underline our support for UN Security Council activities to support ASEAN’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. We call on the UN to strengthen its efforts on Myanmar including via the timely appointment of a Special Envoy and a Resident Coordinator and urge UN Member states to maintain their support to address urgent humanitarian needs in Myanmar.

We call on all members of the international community to support efforts to push the Myanmar military to cease violence, to bring about genuinely inclusive dialogue, in order to establish a credible, peaceful democratic future for Myanmar;  to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of people in Myanmar and refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries, including its most vulnerable communities, and to cease providing the Myanmar military with the arms and equipment that are necessary for them to commit atrocities.

Three years on from the military coup, we continue to stand in solidarity with the Myanmar people and their desire for an inclusive and genuine democracy in Myanmar.

The UK welcomes Malaysia’s decision to abolish the mandatory death penalty for 11 offences, efforts to tackle modern slavery, and plans to provide alternative detention for children.

However, the UK is concerned about proposed amendments to the Citizenship Law, the protection of migrants and refugees, and discrimination against LGBT persons.

We recommend that Malaysia:

1. Urgently develop a comprehensive framework of rights for stateless people and refugees, guaranteeing the rights to education and health for children, in accordance with relevant international conventions.
2. Continue to protect and promote women’s rights through a Gender Equality Bill, and enshrine a clear and workable definition of “discrimination” in law.
3. Take steps to tackle discrimination against LGBT individuals, including by supporting the adoption and implementation of the UN Standards of Conduct for Business.

Thank you, Mr Vice President.

Good afternoon Honourable Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I acknowledge the Protocol which has already been established.

Firstly, thank you Honourable Premier and Honourable Leader of the Opposition for your warm words of welcome.

I also thank Madam Justice, Angelica Teelucksingh, for accommodating us here today.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank in particular Deputy Governor David Archer for assuming the role of Acting Governor over the past week.

I also wanted to pay tribute to the recently departed former legislator Carvin Malone.  My sincerest thoughts are with his family and friends as he is laid to rest later this week.

And at a personal level I am grateful for the very warm welcome that has been extended to myself and to my wife Rachael, here with me this afternoon, by all of those we have so far met here in Tortola.  We look forward to meeting many more people, including across the Sister Islands.

It is an honour and a privilege to have been appointed by His Majesty The King as his representative, and to be sworn in today as Governor of the Virgin Islands.

I should like to recognise those Governors who have gone before me, including my most recent predecessor former Governor John Rankin.

My priority as Governor will be to deliver positive change for all the people of the Virgin Islands.

So I look forward to working in close cooperation and partnership with all branches of the Government of the Virgin Islands – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

I look forward to building close relations with all communities in the Territory and drawing from their insights as I set about my work.

I will be a Governor who is accessible to everyone, including all branches of civil society, public servants and the private sector.

And of course I will engage with the Government of the United Kingdom, representing the interests of these islands to the best of my ability.

As Governor I look forward to collaborating with all those who have the best interests of the people of this Territory at heart, in positive and productive partnership.

My appointment as Governor was made following an open competition, and was approved by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister and His Majesty The King, Charles the Third.  Rachael and I were granted an Audience with His Majesty before we left the UK.

I have been a public servant, as a Member of His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service, for over 3 decades.  For me it has been a privilege to build my career in service to citizens and to wider society.  And I should like to celebrate all those who work in the public sector – dedicating their professional lives to serving their communities.

An important part of my career has been to listen to, and to seek to understand, diverse views.  Inevitably perspectives and opinions differ. But that is a precious quality of a vibrant democracy – the ability to disagree in a respectful way.

I look forward to discussing and understanding the many issues that matter to the people on the Islands:  the cost of living, tackling crime, the chance to build a better, safer future for your children.  These are all challenges that families across the world face at the moment.

The modern partnership with the United Kingdom should help address these challenges – as the recent Joint Declaration on the Overseas Territories, agreed in November last year, set out.

My top priority will be delivery:  working in partnership with all concerned to make positive and lasting change to the benefit of everyone.

And with that in mind I make today 3 pledges to the people of this Territory:

• first, I will do my best to keep everyone safe:  by fulfilling my responsibilities for security working with everyone in the community
• second, I will champion excellence in governance:  by working to ensure the system serves the people, and does so efficiently and transparently
• and third, I will support the efforts of partners across government and beyond to build a better future, including opportunities for the young and protection of this precious and stunningly beautiful  natural environment

And in fulfilling these pledges I will of course work closely with colleagues in the Virgin Islands Government to fulfil the commitments made in response to the findings of the 2022 Commission of Inquiry: commitments made by a number of parties, include the office of Governor.

Delivering the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry will help us achieve the positive changes we all want to see, including better access to services, a fairer society with opportunities for all, and a more accountable and transparent government.

So all of us involved in this critically important work bear a shared responsibility – and an individual accountability – to approach it in the spirit of determination and collaboration.

I ask you to judge me on the basis of what I achieve during my time here. Judge me on results.

I will serve everyone, all communities, all islands, without fear or favour.

I will be as open and transparent in my work as possible. I believe passionately that openness and democracy go hand in hand. So I will set myself a high standard of transparency. And I hope those I work with will help me achieve that.

Of course, I am new to this role. I will rely on wise counsel around me as I listen and learn throughout my tenure as Governor.

And I should like to take this opportunity to say directly to the people of the Virgin Islands themselves:

• I will welcome your advice and guidance
• I will work hard to earn your trust
• and I will rely on your support

In concluding I should stress that it is the honour of my life to hold this position.

Thank you for your attention and may God bless the Virgin Islands and all who live here.

Thank you.