The Cuban Ambassador to Ghana, Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez has appealed to Ghana’s Parliament to help in negotiating with the American Government to end the US Trade embargo on Cuba.
This was at a courtesy call on Speaker Bagbin where the Cuban ambassador also made the point that the blockade, which has existed since 1960, continues to have negative effect on trade in Cuba despite its support to various countries around the world.
Mr. Gonzalez disclosed that Cuba is at phase three (3) of the trials in developing Vaccines against the COVID 19 pandemic, adding, that Cuban has already deployed doctors to over 40 countries to help fight the raging pandemic.
Speaker Bagbin recounted experiences from an earlier visit to Cuba and stated that Cuba remains one of the main supporters of Ghana’s health delivery system and said this continues to make a major difference in Ghana’s health system. Ghana’s doctor to patient ratio remain abysmally low, making this even more imperative. Reference was also made to the numerous Ghanaian medical professionals who are conto ually trained in Cuba.
The Speaker also commented on the fact that the Cuba Parliament has 53.2% female representation and pledged to facilitate a visit by selected female MPs from Ghana’s Parliament to learn from the Cuban experience.
The First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Joseph Osei Owusu, the Majority and Minority Leaders, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and a number of MPs supported the Rt. Hon. Speaker in receiving Ambassador Gonzalez.