Ghana urges U.S. to lift embargo on Cuba

Abidjan – Ghana has called on the U.S. to lift the embargo placed on Cuba in 1960,describing it as outdated and
unnecessary, a government statement has said.
The statement quoted Ghana’s Deputy
Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Thomas
Quartey, as making the call during a
meeting with Mrs Teresita Fraga, Cuban
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in Accra.
The U.S. placed a partial economic and financial ban on Cuba in Oct. 1960 about two years after the Batisma regime was deposed by the Cuban revolution.
The ban was strengthened to a near-total embargo on Feb. 7, 1962 following Cuba’s nationalisation of U.S. property and corporations and was codified into law in 1993.
The law was with a stated purpose of
maintaining sanctions on Cuba so long as its government continued to refuse to move toward democratisation and greater respect for human rights.
Quartey said it was necessary for the U.S. to lift the embargo which had lasted for several years in the interest of good neighbourliness.
The statement also quoted the Ghanaian minister as describing the country’s relationship with Cuba as `old and cordial’.
“This visit is part of the usual bilateral consultations that exist between Ghana and Cuba in the areas of medicine,education, health, agriculture and science.
“The friendship between Ghana and Cuba dates back to the 1960s; we are
committed towards protecting this
relationship,’’ the statement quoted him as saying.
The statement said the two countries
signed some bilateral agreements during the meeting.
It quoted Fraga as describing her visit to Ghana as “part of Cuba’s moves to expand and strengthen its bilateral relations and cooperation”.(NAN)