By Hannah Dadzie
Ghana and Grenada have held the inaugural session of the Ghana–Grenada Political Consultations in Accra, aimed at strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors including health, education, trade, tourism, climate action, and reparations.
Opening the session, Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the consultations as a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the two countries. He said the meeting, which follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations in 2024, provides a “timely and strategic framework” to evaluate progress, explore new areas of collaboration, and align positions on global issues of mutual concern.
Mr. Ablakwa emphasized Ghana’s commitment to translating the historic Ghana–Grenada friendship into measurable outcomes that would benefit citizens of both nations.
He outlined key focus areas including health cooperation, where Grenada has expressed interest in recruiting Ghanaian nurses and health professionals; education and skills development, with opportunities for institutional linkages between universities and training centres; and trade and investment, leveraging complementary strengths in niche products such as spices, shea butter, and textiles.
On tourism and cultural cooperation, the Foreign Affairs Minister highlighted the shared African-Caribbean identity as a foundation for deepening exchanges in creative arts, heritage promotion, and gastronomy. He also reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to collaborate on climate change and disaster management and called for closer coordination between Africa and the Caribbean at multilateral levels to advance the priorities of the Global South, including reparations.
Mr. Ablakwa said reparations are about dignity, justice, and restitution, adding that both regions must work together to ensure that “never again” will such historical injustices occur. He announced that discussions on reparations will continue during Ghana’s upcoming Diaspora Summit on October 19 and 20, to which Grenada’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have been invited.
On his part, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Export Development of Grenada, Joseph Andall, commended the progress made in Ghana–Grenada relations, describing the cooperation as “a shining example” of Africa–Caribbean solidarity. He said the consultations present an opportunity to build on the growing momentum of bilateral engagement.
Mr. Andall therefore urged both countries to “strike while the iron is hot” by forming joint committees to implement agreed initiatives. He underscored the importance of tackling shared challenges such as climate vulnerability, trade logistics, and limited access to concessional financing.
He raised concerns regarding the current international financial architecture, specifically criticizing the metric of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for determining a small, vulnerable country’s eligibility for concessional financing. He advocated for the adoption of the Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index (MVIA) as a more appropriate yardstick to prevent the “cynical move to deny small, vulnerable countries access to concessional grant financing.”
Mr. Andall also welcomed Ghana’s pledge to support Grenada’s health and education sectors and highlighted potential collaboration in fashion, film, culture, and entrepreneurship, noting that such “low-hanging fruits” can quickly yield mutual benefits.
Both Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties, promoting economic cooperation, and enhancing Africa–Caribbean unity within multilateral frameworks such as the African Union (AU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
The consultations form part of Ghana’s broader foreign policy agenda to deepen relations with the Caribbean under the Africa–Caribbean Alliance, an initiative that seeks to reconnect peoples of shared heritage and promote collective development.
The outcome of the political consultations will form the basis for bilateral discussions scheduled for today, October 17, 2025, between the two nations’ leaders, President John Dramani Mahama and Prime Minister Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell.
