Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made history as the first African foreign minister to undertake an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, marking a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.

During the visit, the minister was received by Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, and the country’s Foreign Minister, Jeenbek Kulubayev.

The Ghanaian minister expressed appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality extended to his delegation.

According to the minister, both countries are keen to build a strategic and forward-looking partnership across several priority sectors.

A key focus of the discussions was cooperation in the gold sector, given that Ghana is the leading gold producer in Africa while Kyrgyzstan is a major gold producer in Central Asia, home to the well-known Kumtor Gold Mine.

To demonstrate their commitment to stronger ties, both countries 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 nations.

The new partnership is expected to help Ghana explore diversified international markets as it continues to expand its economy, while strengthening cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, which has recorded strong GDP growth in recent years.

The development also highlights growing South–South cooperation, particularly as Kyrgyzstan has recently been granted observer status in the African Union, opening new avenues for engagement with African countries.

The visit signals the beginning of what officials describe as a promising chapter in Ghana–Kyrgyzstan bilateral relations, with both sides expressing optimism about the opportunities the partnership could unlock for their economies.