Author Archives: HM Government

This will be the Trade Envoy’s fifth visit to Ghana in his role as Trade Envoy to Ghana – and his third since the inauguration of His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo on 7 January.

This visit is about showcasing how UK expertise and investment can partner with Ghana to transform the Infrastructure and Oil & Gas sectors in support of the President’s drive to move “Ghana Beyond Aid”.

Adam Afriyie will meet with key members of the Government of Ghana, including Vice President Bawumia, the Minister for Rail Development and the Minister Transport. Alongside the newly appointed British High Commissioner Iain Walker, he will also visit Takoradi to explore how UK companies working in Oil and Gas are responding to the opportunities in Ghana after the ITLOS ruling.

The UK and Ghana share common interests and values. Adam Afriyie MP will be encouraging more UK businesses to invest in the infrastructure sector and pushing Ghana as a choice destination for UK exports and investments to strengthen ties and build a shared future. As part of this, he will be discussing an ‘Infrastructure is GREAT’ Forum which the UK Department for International Trade (DIT), with support from the UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce, will host at The Kempinski Hotel, Accra Ghana on Tuesday 28 November 2017. It will be a unique opportunity to engage with British Businesses to discuss how they and the UK government can unlock private sector opportunities that can deliver jobs, skills and economic growth for Ghana.

On returning to Ghana Adam Afriyie MP said: “ It is great to be back. I am looking forward to seeing the scale of Infrastructure plans now that the Government is really pushing ahead with its agenda and understand the opportunities for leading UK companies – not least after the conclusion of the ITLOS international arbitration which has provided reassurance and certainty on the future of Ghana’s Oil and Gas sector.”

Speaking about the visit, Iain Walker said: “Our trade has dropped 30% since 2012. As Ghana moves “Beyond Aid” I want to see the UK private sector investing and partnering with the Government of Ghana in the areas that will transform Ghana’s future, creating sustainable growth and employment opportunities. Our focus is on supporting high value projects to enable Ghana to achieve its development agenda, particularly infrastructure needs, including such as Rails, Roads, Ports. Our bilateral trade stood at a peak of £ 1.5 billion in 2012 and has hovered at about £ 1 billion pounds since. I am committed to doing all I can to get this trade back up to peak levels. ”

Both have just returned from NATO and counter-Daesh Ministerial meetings in Brussels, where the alliance agreed to adapt its command structure to better reflect the security environment, announcing the establishment of two new headquarters: an Atlantic Command and a Logistics Command.

NATO is the cornerstone of UK and US defence and both nations have been leading calls for NATO to adapt to future threats. The meeting in London focussed on three themes: current threats, capability and shared prosperity.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“From fighting in the trenches of the Great War to countering Russian aggression and tackling Daesh today, the UK has been America’s closest partner for a century. Today our countries are cooperating on everything from operations and intelligence to innovation and this meeting is an opportunity to continue strengthening our special relationship.”

Despite being close to defeat in Iraq and Syria, Daesh remains a concern for the UK and US and the British Defence Secretary reaffirmed his support to the US-led coalition. The pair also discussed the increasing assertiveness from the Kremlin, as the UK stands side by side with US and NATO allies, leading the enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Estonia and contributing soldiers to the US-led Battlegroup in Poland.

Amongst only six NATO countries meeting the commitment to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence, the UK and US are investing heavily in next generation technology, including the F-35 aircraft. US F-35s will fly from the HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier in 2021, demonstrating the close relationship between the two countries.

The defence trading relationship between the UK and US is worth £3 billion a year and as the UK looks beyond Brexit, both countries hope to strengthen that relationship too.

Roland Rudd is a passionate supporter of the arts and led the Tate’s Corporate Advisory Group for ten years. He was previously a board member of the Royal Opera House.

He is Chairman of Finsbury, a global communications consultancy. Before founding Finsbury, he was a financial journalist at the Financial Times, the Sunday Correspondent and the Times.

He is also Chairman of Governors of Millfield School, Chairman of Open Britain, a trustee of Speakers for Schools, trustee of the Bayreuth Festival, and an Ambassador for the ‘Made by Dyslexia’ campaign.

The role is not remunerated and this appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Roland Rudd has declared that he has made recordable donations to Tessa Jowell, and made donations and held office in relation to Britain Stronger in Europe. Details can be obtained from the Electoral Commission website.

The Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) publishes its second fourth round compliance report on the United Kingdom.