Ghana-Cuba to set up mechanisms for bilateral agreements

Accra, April 21, GNA - The three-day 12th Session of the Ghana-Cuba Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation ended in Accra on Wednesday with a firm commitment from both countries to institute mechanisms to ensure full implementation of the agreements. Agreements for the year 2004-2006 include bilateral cooperation in health, education, mining, culture, agriculture, science and technology.

Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Ghana would create a special department where all the activities relating to the agreements, which ought to be implemented by the various Ministries and Departments, would be coordinated and monitored. He said this year's in-depth and wider coverage of subject areas as well as the level of commitment to ensure effective implementation compared to previous sessions, showed how successful the deliberations had been.

Mr Ramon Diaz, Deputy Cuban Foreign Minister for Investment and Trade for Africa, expressed much satisfaction with the agreements saying: "We are happy that we have been able to successfully reach these agreements and with the mechanisms put in place, we believe everything will be implemented."

He said the Cuba Medical Brigade in Ghana would continue their work for the next two years adding: "The Cuban government is happy that despite the United States politics against it, Cuba has been able to make an impact in Ghana's development."

Mr Diaz said Cuba would continue to support the interests of other nations to build a better world.

The Joint-Cooperation, which had existed for over two decades, seeks to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries.