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Posted by Chester Morton / Monday 8 October 2018 / No comments
The advantages of Ghana’s foreign policy
THE ADVANTAGES OF GHANA'S FOREIGN POLICY
Introduction
The adoption of various foreign policy strategies by successive governments in Ghana has over the years brought many benefits to the country. Some of these benefits are discussed below.
Border protection
One of the benefits of Ghana’s foreign policy is the
protection of her borders. Ghana is bordered on the east, west and north by
Francophone countries which were former colonies of France. The adoption of a
peaceful relationship with these countries over the years has ensured that there is relative peace at these borders. The
protection Ghana enjoys at these borders has kept the borders protected from
unscrupulous elements.
Assurance of supplies
Another benefit Ghana enjoys from her foreign policy is that
the country is able to meet all the needed import supplies from all her trading
partners. Ghana imports goods and services from the United Kingdom, the United
States, Germany, China and Vietnam to mention but a few. The good relationship
Ghana had built with these and other foreign countries has always ensured that Ghana get all the needed supplies from her trading partners.
Capital inflow
Also, Ghana has benefited from her foreign policy through the
inflow of foreign capital investment. Ghana’s membership of international
organizations like the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the
African Development Bank has helped to raise the needed capital for the funding
of several projects in the country. Bilateral agreements with countries like
China, South Korea have also helped to bring in much needed funds for
development projects.
Market for raw materials
Also, Ghana needs to export her raw materials and other
services to other countries in order to earn foreign exchange to pay for
imports and to service debts. Ghana exports cocoa, coffee, bauxite, crude oil
etc. Ghana’s foreign policy has ensured Ghana she constantly gains access to the
international market to sell her products.
Manage disasters
Again, Ghana’s foreign policy has helped to manage disasters.
Ghana’s northern neighbor, Burkina Faso spills water from its Bagri Dam every
year to prevent the dam from bursting. Anytime the spillage takes place, so
much flooding and destruction of property is caused downstream in Ghana.
However, the good relationship between Ghana and Burkina Faso has ensured that
the disaster is better managed. The two countries have developed an early
warning system where the authorities in Ghana are informed about the pending
spillage of the dam so they can adequately prepare to mitigate the effects of the
spillage on the Ghana side of the water’s pathway.
Ghana's cocoa |
International platform
Again Ghana’s foreign policy has given her a huge
international platform to express her opinion on global issues and also bring
crucial domestic issues to the notice of the comity of nations. Ghana’s
presidents over the years have been given the opportunity to address the United
Nations Organizations annual General Assembly every year. A forum that is
exploited to bring to the attention of the world what Ghana thinks about
certain pertinent global issues. A similar platform is offered at the
Commonwealth of Nations, Economic Community of West African States and the African
Union meetings of Heads of States and Governments.
Avoid armed conflict with neighbours
In 2014, Ghana dragged Cote d’Ivoire to the International
Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the judiciary arm of the United Nations, for
claiming that part of the oil and gas-rich Cape Three Points on the shores of
the Western Region belongs to them. In other parts of the world or the African
continent, this could have resulted in armed conflict. If this step had not
been taken, an armed conflict could have resulted and as the two countries are
engaged in a silly war, oil stealing syndicates would have exploited the
conflict to siphon Ghana’s crude oil at a minimal or no cost at all. Ghana’s
foreign policy of settling border disputes in a peaceful and amicable way
through, if possible, international judicial structures, helped to prevent the
kind of conflict that occurred between Nigeria and Cameroun over the Bakassi
peninsular.
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