Ghana Deepens Ties With Caribbean Partners At Commonwealth Meeting – Ablakwa
Ghana has made significant progress in strengthening relations with its strategic partners in the Caribbean, following a series of bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this in a Facebook post after the meeting, highlighting advances in health worker mobility, trade, port cooperation, oil and gas, and air connectivity.
Mr Ablakwa said his bilateral meeting with the host Foreign Minister, His Excellency Everly Paul Chet Greene of Antigua and Barbuda, confirmed that the first group of 120 nurses from Ghana are making an impressive impact in that country.
He said Antigua has therefore requested more health workers from Ghana.
The Minister added that Ghana’s new Visa Waiver for all categories of passport holders is expected to bring the two countries closer as they deepen trade, tourism and people-to-people relations.
On Jamaica, Mr Ablakwa said his engagement with Foreign Minister, Her Excellency Kamina Johnson Smith, highlighted the crucial Ghana-Jamaica Port Cooperation Agreement which is now ready.
Under the agreement, the Tema Port and the Port of Kingston are expected to have a comprehensive collaboration to boost trade, logistics, maritime cooperation and job creation.
He also revealed that Ghana’s latest group of nurses have arrived in Jamaica under the labour mobility programme negotiated last year.
Mr Ablakwa further held a substantive meeting with the Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Sean S.M. Sobers (MP), focusing on new investments and expanding oil and gas partnerships.
He announced that Ghana will commission its new High Commission in Trinidad next year.
The Minister said Ghana is finalising air services agreements with its Caribbean friends to work out direct flight arrangements between Ghana and the Caribbean when the ongoing revival of Ghana Airways is completed.
Beyond the Caribbean, Mr Ablakwa said his discussions with Australia’s James Buttigieg, Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Peace, Security and Candidacies, set out shared priorities as Australia bids for membership of the UN Security Council.
He noted that as Chair of the African Union next year, Ghana is forging closer ties with international allies to advance Africa’s case for UN reforms and to ensure Africa is permanently represented on the UN Security Council.
Ghana is also pushing for the reconfiguration of the international financial architecture, AI regulation, climate justice, resource sovereignty, reparatory justice and conflict resolution.
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