Ablakwa makes history as first African Foreign Minister to officially visit Kyrgyzstan

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made history as the first African Foreign Minister to undertake an official visit to the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan.

This visit, he said, marks the beginning of a strategic new partnership between Ghana and Kyrgyzstan.

Sharing an update on his trip in a social media post on Monday, Ablakwa revealed that he held high-level talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, which led to the signing of two key agreements “aimed at deepening bilateral ties and unlocking economic opportunities.”

“Ghana as the leading gold producer in Africa and Kyrgyzstan being a leading gold producer in Central Asia with its famous Kumtor Gold Mines, have committed to a mutually beneficial partnership in the interest of our two economies,” part of the post read.

To cement this commitment, Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that both governments have signed an initial agreement on visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and service passports, with a plan to eventually extend it to all ordinary passport holders.

“We are excited about this new south-south cooperation with our friends who were recently accorded AU observer status,” Ablakwa added, “I am most grateful to President Sadyr Japarov and Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev for their warm invitation and incredible hospitality.”