Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry is set to fly to Ghana on Wednesday for talks with top Ghanaian officials on enhancing bilateral relations and consultations over a number of regional and international issues. In a statement by Egypt's foreign ministry, spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Shoukry will deliver during his visit a letter from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on means of bolstering bilateral ties. Shoukry will also meet his Ghanaian counterpart Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and parliament speaker Aaron Mike Oquaye. According to Abu Zeid, the visit is part of Egypt's ongoing efforts to bolster ties with African counterparts. The statement said that Egyptian investments in Ghana amount to some $1 billion through several major Egyptian companies in the fields of infrastructure, construction and energy. Abu Zeid said that both countries are looking to activate a joint committee to increase trade, adding that there is cooperation between the two African countries in security, counterterrorism, health, telecommunications, agriculture, irrigation, fisheries, education and culture. Over the past year, Egypt has increased talks with its African counterparts. In December 2016, Cairo received multiple African leaders, including those of Kenya and Eritrea, both of whom expressed readiness to boost bilateral cooperation with Egypt.
