Ghana, Cuba sign political consultation agreement

Ghana and Cuba have taken their bilateral relations a notch higher by signing an agreement on political consultations.

By this development, the two countries have resolved to support each other on issues that will inure to the benefit of their peoples within the framework of South-South cooperation.

The agreement was initialled by Ghana’s Foreign Minister and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Cuban Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bruno Parrilla Rodriguez in the Cuban capital, Havana.

The Cuban Revolution took off in 1959 and was led by Comrade Fidel Castro. Ghana was the first country in Africa to recognise the government of Fidel Castro.

Since then, relations between the two countries have grown significantly. Cuba is noted for its advancement in the medical field and has helped in training over three thousand Ghanaians in medicine.

Also, Cuba has over the last 59 years deployed thousands of its medical personnel to Ghana to man health facilities across the country. One of the successful medical campaigns launched in Ghana against Malaria dubbed the “Roll Back Malaria” from 2003-2008 was undertaken in collaboration with Cuba.

2019 will mark the 60-year anniversary of the Ghana-Cuba relations and in view of this Ghana’s top diplomat, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey visited Havana, the capital of Cuba from September 13 to 18, 2018, to hold bilateral talks with her Cuban counterpart, Mr. Bruno Parrilla Rodriguez.

Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey lauded Cuba for the scholarship support to Ghanaian students but stressed that the potentials of the two countries are yet to be harnessed fully for the benefit of their citizens.

The Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister, recounted that in 2006 when President Akufo-Addo visited Havana as a Foreign Minister, the late Cuban President Fidel Castro told him he will one day become the President of Ghana. Mr. Rodriguez was therefore happy that the prediction of comrade Castro has come to pass.

Following the bilateral talks, an agreement on political consultations was signed, after which the diplomatic community in Cuba took turns to share pleasantries with the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Ghanaian delegation.