By Hannah Dadzie
Ghana and the Russia have held a technical session of political consultations aimed at deepening a 68-year partnership, exploring new areas of cooperation while addressing sensitive diplomatic concerns.
The meeting which took place on March 12, 2026, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together officials from both countries to assess existing partnerships and identify opportunities for deeper engagement.
The Ghanaian delegation was led by Director of the Europe Bureau, Ambassador Eric Owusu-Boaten, while the Russian delegation was headed by Director of the Department of African States, H.E. Anatoly Bashkin.
In his opening remarks, the Coordinating Director for Political and Economic Affairs at the ministry, Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman, noted that the 68-year partnership between the two countries had been built on trust, mutual respect and solidarity.
He said the long-standing relations had been sustained through political dialogue, economic cooperation, educational exchanges and collaboration within multilateral frameworks.
The two sides reviewed bilateral trade relations and discussed opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, industrial development, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and technology transfer. They also emphasised the need to expand university partnerships in science, engineering, technology and medicine.
The discussions further explored collaboration in energy diversification, technical and vocational training as well as capacity building, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to strengthening relations through sustained dialogue.
Beyond bilateral trade, the delegations exchanged views on regional security, specifically developments in the Sahel region. The meeting also served as a preparatory step for the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for October 2026.
During the consultations, Ghanaian officials raised concerns over enlistment of Ghanaian youth in Russia’s ongoing “special operations”, with both parties agreeing to work together to address the recruitment concerns.
In a move aimed at strengthening digital accountability, Ghana also requested Russia’s cooperation in holding a Russian citizen accountable for the non-consensual publication of explicit images of Ghanaian women. The Russian delegation assured Ghana of its cooperation in handling the matter.
Following the session, the head of the Russian delegation paid a courtesy call on the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the consultations.
