Ghana and Russia Signs Visa Agreement -

The Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have signed an agreement establishing visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports in Moscow.

The two foreign ministers signed and exchanged folders after the ceremony.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also reported that the top diplomats discussed the development of bilateral relations, as well as practical steps to strengthen political dialogue.

Ablakwa is in Moscow on a working visit from August 16-19.

Russia Foreign Minister Welcome Speech

Mr Minister, dear friends,

We are very glad to host you in Moscow. This is your first visit in your capacity as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ghana. I hope that together we will ensure continuity in our relations. Your predecessor visited Russia as well.

Today is a good opportunity to touch base and to compare notes on where we are. We will sign an important document – an agreement on visa-free travel for diplomatic and service passport holders, which is important to promote contacts between the two governments in all areas, of course foreign ministry, ministries of economy, trade, investment, humanitarian exchanges, education.

Ghana for us is historically one of the most important partners in the West Africa. We always remember about your first President Kwame Nkrumah, who was very popular in my country. He is one of the outstanding politicians who led the decolonisation movement.

I also cannot miss mentioning Kofi Annan, another great Ghanaian, who was my very close friend serving as Secretary General in the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. He indeed is remembered as one of the best people to hold this important position, never taking sides, always being balanced, wise and always his activities were based on the United Nations Charter, on the principles of the Charter applied not selectively but in their entirety.

We also see that President John Mahama continues to promote a unifying agenda on the African continent, in the African Union and also in the in world affairs.

We will have an opportunity to discuss today our bilateral relations, trade, economic, educational and humanitarian cooperation, but we also would appreciate your assessment of the situation in Africa especially since some of the crises continue to be there in spite of the efforts of the African Union and international community.

Of course, we will discuss the important international issues in other parts of the world including the Strait of Hormuz, the situation in Latin America and on the European continent where our European neighbours continue to threaten Russia with strategic defeat.

We will discuss all this, and I hope this will be a useful visit. Welcome once again.

Ghana Appreciates Russia

Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa thanked Russia for supporting its UN General Assembly resolution on the transatlantic slave trade – which saw Western nations either abstain or vote against – during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow .

“Russia is one of few European countries that did not abstain. They voted in favour of the resolution. And Russia has been working with us since the adoption of the resolution. And President Mahama has asked me to convey his deepest and profound appreciation to President Putin, to Foreign Minister Lavrov, and to the people of Russia for always demonstrating that you are reliable and trusted friends of Africa,” the Ghanaian diplomat said.

Ablakwa also raised the issue of Ghanaian nationals taking part in the conflict in Ukraine.

“We raised the matter of a growing number of Ghanaian youth who are being lured to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. And we are seeing an increase in casualties – about 62 Ghanaians have lost their lives and 15 of them are missing. So I did raise the matter, and I’m happy with the response from Foreign Minister Lavrov, who has pledged that we can work together to stop these illegal recruitments happening on the blind side of our two governments, so that we can protect the lives of young people who are being lured on the front lines,” the foreign minister said.

Lavrov said Moscow respected Accra’s independent stance on combating neo-colonialism and addressing the legacy of the colonial era.

“We have a mutual commitment to develop relations in all areas on the basis of this solid and reliable foundation, including the economy, trade, investment and the development of Ghana’s industry. The minister [Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa] specifically emphasised his president’s [John Mahama] interest in creating as much added value as possible within the country, rather than continuing the practice of exporting raw materials so that other countries reap the main benefits and that added value. We are ready to assist in this in every possible way,” the Russian foreign minister added.

The historic UN vote in March, spearheaded by Ghana and backed by the African Union, declared the transatlantic slave trade the ‘gravest crime against humanity’.

The UN session split the UN

The UN session split the UN into the Global South and their allies, and the West in a very stark way – particularly over reparations and what they would look like. 123 countries backed it including all African nations present, and BRICS allies like Russia, China, Brazil, India and many more.

Three countries – the US, Israel and Argentina – voted against, and 52 abstained. Notable abstentions included the UK, Ukraine and all 27 European Union nations, who cited varying concerns over the wording and the extent of any ‘reparations’.

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Source : Viory/ DW