Africa-Press – Ghana. Ghana and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation following an official visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to the Central Asian country.
The visit marks the first time an African foreign minister has been formally hosted by Kyrgyzstan, signalling a new phase of engagement between the two countries.
During meetings in Bishkek with President Sadyr Japarov and Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, both sides discussed avenues for expanding collaboration in trade, mining and diplomatic relations.
Mr Ablakwa described the visit as historic and an important step in expanding Ghana’s diplomatic reach.
“We made history today as Ghana became the first African country whose foreign minister has been hosted on an official visit in Kyrgyzstan,” he said.
The visit reflected Ghana’s determination to broaden its diplomatic and economic partnerships beyond traditional allies, he noted.
A major outcome of the engagement was the signing of two bilateral agreements aimed at institutionalising cooperation between the two countries.
The first agreement provides visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and service passports from both nations, with discussions ongoing to extend the arrangement to holders of ordinary passports in the future.
The two sides also agreed to establish a mechanism for regular political consultations between their foreign ministries to facilitate dialogue on issues of mutual interest.
The agreements would help strengthen diplomatic engagement and create a structured framework for collaboration in trade and international affairs.
Economic cooperation, particularly in the mining sector, featured prominently in the discussions.
Ghana is Africa’s leading gold producer, while Kyrgyzstan hosts the Kumtor Gold Mine, one of the largest mining operations in Central Asia.
Mr Ablakwa said the shared expertise of the two countries in the gold sector presented opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration.
“With Ghana as Africa’s leading gold producer and Kyrgyzstan home to the renowned Kumtor Gold Mines, we see strong potential for a mutually beneficial partnership in the mining sector,” he said.
“Our cooperation will focus on sharing expertise and unlocking new opportunities for both economies.”
The visit also formed part of Ghana’s broader strategy to diversify its trade relations and engage emerging markets across different regions.
Mr Ablakwa said Kyrgyzstan’s recent economic growth and its strategic location in Central Asia made it an important partner for Ghana’s expanding economy.
“We are particularly interested in exploring diversified markets for Ghana’s growing economy. Kyrgyzstan’s recent economic performance and its strategic position in Central Asia make it an important partner for the future,” he added.
The engagement comes as Kyrgyzstan seeks to strengthen ties with African countries following its recent recognition as an observer to the African Union.
Officials from both countries indicated follow-up engagements, which would include trade missions, mining cooperation initiatives and increased people-to-people exchanges aimed at translating the new agreements into tangible economic benefits.
They said the visit marked an important step towards enhancing South-South cooperation and strengthening links between Africa and Central Asia.
