EU Ambassador to Ghana Lectures UEW Students on Africa-EU Partnership
His Excellency Irchad Razaaly, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Ghana, has spoken to students at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), studying Regional Geography of Africa on the relevance of the Africa-EU partnership in the 21st century.
His Excellency Razaaly elaborated on the EU’s green deal roadmap and global gateway strategy; the EU’s aim to be climate neutral by 2050; Africa and the neighbourhood; the EU-Africa agenda and trade; the African continental free trade area; global Europe-NDICI; the EU’s integrated approach; the EU as a global leader in development cooperation and humanitarian aid; and the EU’s official development assistance and international security.
He asserted that the EU, along with its member states, is the world's greatest single donor of development aid, accounting for roughly half of all official development assistance. He went on to remark that these initiatives have a significant impact on the lives of millions of people all around the world. He also highlighted that the EU was a strong supporter of the new UN Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in 2015.
Speaking on measures taken by the EU to strengthen international security, the EU Ambassador to Ghana stated that close to 5,000 military and civilian experts are deployed by the EU’s member states to assist partner countries to create a safe and secured environment by fighting pirates; managing borders; preventing conflicts; combatting organised crime and smuggling; and reforming national security sectors.
He revealed that the EU aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 to facilitate lasting global recovery from COVID-19 with the global gateway strategy.
The Dean, Faculty of Social Science Education, UEW, Prof. Lucy Effeh Attom, expressed hope that the Department of Geography Education and the EU could collaborate in the areas of security, migration, climate change/resilience, and private sector development, allowing UEW staff and students to explore opportunities in the EU.
She also hoped for the commencement of a process that would lead to academic exchange programmes between the faculty, especially the Department of Geography Education, and some European universities.
The programme was put together by the Department of Geography Education, UEW, in collaboration with the African Students and Alumni Forum (ASAF)/Erasmus+, EU. It took place at the Kwadwo Baah Wiredu Lecture Theatre 4, North Campus, UEW on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
