Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen said consolidated diplomatic engagement both at the headquarters and missions level is expected to advance Ethiopia national interests.
During the annual ambassadors retreat as part of the ongoing diplomatic week and exhibition this morning, DPM and FM Demeke briefed the heads of Ethiopian diplomatic and consular missions overseas on current affairs.
He said heads of missions near and far are expected to protect our national interests through diversification of friends, combating incendiary narratives through an all-rounded and inclusive diplomatic engagement.
Diplomatic excellence must be at the heart of Ethiopia’s ever-inclusive and diversified foreign relations in bilateral, regional, continental and international venues, he noted.
The deputy prime minister and foreign minister returned to Addis Ababa on 21 January 2024 upon the conclusion of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Some residents of Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti Region, have threatened to boycott the next general elections due to the lack of development in their area.
The agitating residents made this known during a demonstration to register their displeasure over the disturbing circumstances they faced.
Nana Gbeki Alokpatsa, chief of the Alokpatsa, told the Ghana News Agency that although both the previous and current governments have made good promises for decades, residents have not yet seen any action in the areas of good road networks, electricity supply, access to potable drinking water, among others.
He lamented the absence of development, saying, the situation was retarding the growth of the area, so ‘an urgent response from government must come to address the issues.’
Nana Alokpatsa also appealed to the government to assign Agricultural Extension Officers to Alukpatsa and other communities to help farmers to maximise their yields.
Mr Alfred Jagri, a youth leader at Alokpatsa, said the majority of
young people in the communities have been compelled to leave in quest of better opportunities elsewhere due to the situation.
This, they said, would compel them to abstain from voting in the elections if their demands, including infrastructure and other developmental issues were not addressed.
In an interaction with the residents, they stated that despite participating in every election in the country, the politicians persisted in ignoring their developmental needs, which was negatively affecting the quality of life.
The residents were drawn from 25 farming communities including Alokpatsa, Kechiebi-Krachi, Akura B-Zongo, and Kpanku Dayen.
Source: Ghana News Agency