The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Parrilla, has reaffirmed the historic and enduring ties between Ghana and Cuba, describing the bond as one rooted in friendship and solidarity during engagements at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York City.
He recalled that Ghana was the first Sub-Saharan African country to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, a partnership that has remained strong since the era of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Commander Fidel Castro of Cuba.
According to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Parrilla expressed appreciation for President John Dramani Mahama’s “consistent advocacy for the removal of restrictions imposed on Cuba.”
He emphasized that Havana remains committed to working with Accra to expand cooperation into new areas of economic engagement while consolidating existing programmes in health and education.
“Cuba has trained a significant percentage of Ghanaian doctors,” Minister Parrilla said, stressing that this legacy of collaboration continues to strengthen Ghana’s health sector and remains one of the most enduring pillars of bilateral relations.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, responded by thanking Cuba for its unwavering role in building Ghana’s medical capacity. He affirmed that Ghana will continue to pursue new avenues of cooperation with Cuba, noting that the bilateral relationship has matured and is ready to extend into broader fields of collaboration.
“Cuba has been a steadfast partner in our national development journey. The sacrifices and investments made, particularly in our health sector, are deeply appreciated, and we are committed to sustaining and modernizing this long-standing relationship”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Expanding Cooperation with Burundi
Beyond bilateral relations with Cuba, Ghana also strengthened ties with Burundi during meetings on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Foreign Minister Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa met with Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Albert Shingiro, where the two exchanged views on Human Rights Council matters.
“In their discussions, the Ministers expressed optimism that sustained dialogue and closer cooperation would not only deepen bilateral relations but also enhance constructive engagement within the multilateral system”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Both sides underscored the need for African countries to “work together to amplify their voices,” in global platforms such as the United Nations, where collective action remains key to addressing shared challenges.
Hon. Ablakwa reiterated Ghana’s position that African cooperation must increasingly go beyond bilateral levels to strengthen continental representation and advocacy at “multilateral fora.” He highlighted that the meeting with Burundi was a reflection of Ghana’s broader diplomatic policy under President John Mahama, which emphasizes regional solidarity alongside global engagement.
The reaffirmation of ties with both Cuba and Burundi underscores Ghana’s active diplomacy on the global stage and its continuing efforts to deepen longstanding partnerships while forging new ones.
The Cuban commitment to health and educational cooperation, coupled with Ghana’s assurance of expanded collaboration, signals a renewed era of practical engagement between the two nations, while the dialogue with Burundi reflects Ghana’s strategy of building consensus and fostering unity within Africa as part of its wider foreign policy agenda.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration stressed that these engagements demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to pursuing international partnerships that support national development and promote African solidarity at multilateral levels.
The strengthening of diplomatic bonds with Cuba and Burundi aligns with Ghana’s vision of fostering cooperation that benefits its people while contributing to global peace and constructive dialogue.
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