Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced a historic diplomatic milestone following his official visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he became the first African Foreign Minister to be hosted by the Central Asian nation.
During the visit, Ablakwa held high-level talks with President Sadyr Japarov and Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, expressing appreciation for their warm reception and hospitality.
The discussions focused on building a strategic partnership between Ghana and Kyrgyzstan, with both countries identifying key areas of cooperation to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.
A major highlight of the engagement was the commitment to collaborate in the gold sector, leveraging Ghana’s position as Africa‘s leading gold producer and Kyrgyzstan’s reputation in Central Asia, particularly with the Kumtor Gold Mines. The partnership is expected to promote mutual economic benefits for both countries.
To formalize relations, the two nations signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, with plans to extend the arrangement to ordinary passport holders in the future. A second agreement was also signed to establish formal political consultations between the two countries.
The visit is seen as a step towards expanding Ghana’s global partnerships and exploring diversified markets for its growing economy. Kyrgyzstan’s strong economic performance in recent years was highlighted as a key factor in the collaboration.
Ablakwa further noted that the partnership aligns with broader South-South cooperation, especially as Kyrgyzstan has recently been granted observer status in the African Union.
The visit marks a new chapter in Ghana–Kyrgyzstan relations, with both countries expressing optimism about the long-term benefits of their emerging partnership.
