The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has commended the Canadian government for its immense support in transforming Ghana's veterinary services in Accra and Tamale.

The Minister is also pleased with the assistance given by the Canadian high commissioner, H.E. Dr Heather Cameron to Noguchi to improve their service towards the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the minister, the establishment of the Development Finance Institute (DFI) with an initial capitalization of $300 million in aid of private sector investments, and the establishment of the 'Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, among others are unprecedented heights attained by Ghana-Canada relations in recent times.

She said, while the ties have increased bilateral trade over the last three years by 15 per cent,  investments by Canadian businesses have risen to over $2 billion. 

Mrs Ayorkor Botchwey made the remarks at a brief ceremony held in Accra on 4 January 2021 to receive credence letters from Canada's high commissioner-designate to Ghana, Ms Kathleen Csaba.

The latter disclosed that: “Canada is, of course, committed to ensuring that access to the COVID-19 vaccine is equitable."

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Ms Kathleen said Canada has made available 220 million dollars to purchase doses of COVID-19 vaccine for low and middle-income countries including Ghana.

She also indicated that  Canada is in the early days of rolling out the delivery of the vaccine.

COVAX is one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, which was launched in April 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission and France in response to the pandemic.

This brings together governments, global health organisations, manufacturers, scientists, private sector, civil society and philanthropy, with the aim of providing innovative and equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.

The program is focussed on ensuring that people in all corners of the world get access to COVID-19 vaccines once they are available, regardless of their wealth.  

Maxwell Attah, Ashanti Regional Correspondent