Ghana and Grenada have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations in key sectors of their economies for the mutual benefit of their citizens.
The priority areas of cooperation include education, health, climate change, tourism, culture, trade and investment, disaster management, and multilateral engagement.
This reaffirmation was made by Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Mr. Joseph Andall, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Ghana and Grenada respectively, during the opening session of the Ghana-Grenada Political Consultation Meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Thursday.
The maiden consultation meeting preceded high-level talks between President John Dramani Mahama and the Prime Minister of Grenada on deepening bilateral relations between the two nations.
Mr. Ablakwa expressed appreciation to Grenada for its continued commitment to strengthening ties with Ghana over the past two years, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mechanisms for political consultation between the two countries last year.
He said the consultation mechanism provides a timely and structured framework for both countries to review the progress of cooperation, explore new areas of partnership, and exchange perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
“We approach this discussion with optimism, a shared commitment, and a strong sense of urgency to translate our long-standing goodwill into concrete, measurable outcomes for our people,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
He further noted that Ghana acknowledges Grenada’s interest in recruiting health professionals and looks forward to signing an agreement that would serve as a framework for the recruitment process.
Mr. Ablakwa also highlighted that Ghana’s Black Star Experience initiative would play a vital role in strengthening collaboration between the two countries through cultural exchanges.
For his part, Mr. Andall observed that current global developments, including trade wars, underscore the importance of political consultation meetings between the two countries.
He stressed that the African diaspora extends beyond the Caribbean, noting that many Africans reside in Central and South America.
“We have a significant population of Africans in South America, and Brazil has the largest African population in the southern part of the Americas. In South America, the representation of African people at the political and economic level is woefully inadequate,” Mr. Andall said.
“So, we are appealing to ensure that we do not forget our brothers and sisters in Central and South America, and that we pull them along with the rest of us,” he added.
Mr. Andall also expressed concern over recent developments in the international financial architecture that have made it difficult for Grenada to qualify for concessional financing.
He, therefore, called for the adoption of the multidimensional vulnerability index as the basic approach to determine which countries should qualify for such financial support.
BY CYNTHIA ASAMPANA
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
