According to Ms Botchwey, who made brief remarks before the closed interactive session, the meeting was to afford both parties: officials of the ministry and the Deans, an opportunity to have frank and open conversations an urged them to freely put forward their concerns and ideas.

She said the ministry has engaged more robustly at both bilateral and multilateral levels this year in order to help realize government’s vision of economic development and prosperity for Ghanaians and highlighted some of the engagements.

“The pursuit of our foreign policy objectives has particularly emphasized economic diplomacy, by which we have supported national efforts to diversify and increase Ghana’s export base, draw in foreign investments and promote tourism and hospitality,” she said, adding that the re-establishment of the Economic, Trade, and Investment Bureau at the ministry had helped in this.

She said there have been many high-level visits from heads of some countries in Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asian and the Pacific and the Gulf, as well as visits of Ghana’s president to some of those countries which helped to strengthen the existing bilateral ties.

She said the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area in Africa, in 2018, was also a step forward in the quest for continental unity adding that only seven countries, including Ghana, have deposited their instruments of ratification of the Agreement.

“Going into 2019, we hope to see 17 more member states ratify and deposit their instruments of ratification to enable the Agreement come into force,” she said.She said while Ghana has engaged with countries in Asian and Pacific such as China and India, it intends to engage more countries in the region including South Korea and Singapore to explore further areas of cooperation.

She said relations with Gulf states was currently at an all-time high.

“I wish to extend deep gratitude to Your Excellencies, and through you to the rest of the Diplomatic community in Ghana, for your tireless commitment to strengthening relations with Ghana during the year,” she said.

Ambassador Bernard Ehui-Koutoua, Ambassador of Ivory Coast to Ghana and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, commended the Government of Ghana for creating a conducive environment in the country which allowed the diplomatic community to work.