Australian High Commissioner calls for peaceful elections

By
Kodjo Adams, GNA

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA
– Mr Andrew Barnes, the Australian High Commissioner, on Friday, urged
stakeholders in the country’s electoral processes to ensure free, fair and
peaceful elections in December 2020.

Ghana’s record of
holding peaceful elections and smooth transitions of power, was the envy of
many nations and that there was the need for all to continue this feat and
consolidate democratic governance for sustained growth.

He was speaking at a
reception to celebrate Australia National Day in Accra.

He said Australia’s
relationship with Ghana was based on shared interests, including democracy,
commitment to peace and security and the importance of free trade and
investment for mutual benefits.

The High
Commissioner commended the government for initiating the “Ghana Beyond Aid,”
agenda, adding that, the Australian government recognized education and
training as key pillars in achieving the goal.

“For this reason,
the Australia Awards Scholarship programme has form an integral part of our
cooperation with Ghana by contributing to strengthening the nation’s human
capital and fostering an understanding of each other’s cultures, political
systems and economies,” he added.

Mr Barnes said the
Australian government, since 2011, had supported over 400 Ghanaian
professionals with scholarships to study in Australia in various disciplines
where over 50 per cent of beneficiaries in Master’s programme were female.

Touching on
responsible mining, Mr Barnes said the Australian mining companies had
contributed significantly to Ghana’s development through the royalties and
taxes.

“Our companies pride
themselves on the transfer of knowledge, skills and expertise to the Ghanaian
workforce.”

On social
interventions for women empowerment, he said, they had instituted projects that
promoted gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in areas of
education, health and sanitation.

The High Commission
in its quest to fight domestic violence, raised an amount of GH¢200,000.00 from
the Ghanaian and Australian mining companies at the launch of the Commission’s
2018 annual Melbourne Cup Charity Gala.

The money was
presented to the Pearl Safe Haven, an NGO and the Police Service’s Domestic
Violence Victims Support Unit to help build a safe house for victims of gender
violence and abuse in the Greater Accra Region.

Phase one of the
building project, he said, was expected to be completed and inaugurated in May,
2020.

Focusing on clean
environment, he said the High Commission in 2018 became the first Australian
overseas mission to become self-sufficient in electricity, using installed
solar panels.

He said they were
leading the way with other diplomatic missions in Accra in demonstrating that
installing solar power systems was not only good for the environment, but also
made great economic sense.

Mrs Cynthia
Morrison, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection on behalf of
government, congratulated Australia on the occasion of its National Day.

She said Ghana
shared the pain of Australia’s recent prolonged bush fires that claimed lives,
displaced many people, ravaged the landscape and heavily impacted on wildlife.

“Ghana acknowledges
the enormous loss of resources during the natural disaster and pledges its
continuous support for all international interventions to help Australia
overcome this period of difficulty,” she added.

She expressed
optimism that the bilateral trade between the two countries, would help to
significantly improve the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, creating a
huge market for 1.2 billion people and explore business opportunities.

Australia’s
University of New Castle, South Wales, has established a Centre for African
Research Engagement and Partnerships to foster its relations with African
educational institutions and help enhance global research capacity and academic
excellence.