Ghana and Latvia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on security and trade after high-level talks between their foreign ministers in Riga, where both sides also discussed development projects and work in international organisations.
Latvia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Baiba Braže, hosted Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on February 2 as part of a working visit to Latvia. During the meeting, the ministers reviewed bilateral relations and explored options to expand economic cooperation. They also exchanged views on security challenges in Europe and West Africa.
Ghana Latvia talks focus on trade and investment links
Latvia said cereals, milling products and electrical appliances currently dominate trade with Ghana. At the same time, Braže pointed to Latvia’s growing high value-added sectors, including ICT, digitalisation and green technologies. She said Ghana had shown interest in cooperation in those areas.
In addition, Latvia said it wants to deepen cooperation in agriculture and food processing. The Latvian side also outlined an economic agenda around the visit. It included meetings with businesses and innovation actors, according to Latvia’s Foreign Ministry.
Ghana has pursued similar priorities in earlier engagements with Latvia. In 2018, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said both countries agreed to focus collaboration on agriculture, ICT, education and e-governance as they sought to shift from political consultations to stronger economic ties.
Security cooperation and international coordination
The two ministers discussed the security situation in Europe and West Africa. They also addressed Russia’s war against Ukraine and its wider effects, including food and energy security, according to Latvia’s Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, Braže said Latvia values Ghana’s expertise as a member of the United Nations Security Council. She added that both countries share priorities that include respect for international law and opposition to changing borders by force.
Ablakwa, for his part, briefed Latvia on security risks in West Africa, including terrorist threats in the Sahel region, Latvia’s Foreign Ministry said.
Development projects and sector meetings
Latvia said it has increased its engagement with African partners through development cooperation. It also said it implemented an agriculture-related development cooperation project last year and shared that experience with Ghana during the talks.
Separately, Ghana’s Embassy in Berlin, which covers Latvia through concurrent accreditation, said the visit included meetings with Latvia’s ministries responsible for interior matters, education and science. The Embassy also said the programme featured engagements with private-sector institutions in ICT, energy, agribusiness and innovation.
Consular issues raised during the visit
Alongside trade and security, the Ghana Embassy in Berlin said Latvian authorities assured Ghana of full cooperation in efforts to pursue “truth and justice” in connection with the death of a Ghanaian student, Nana Adjei Ahyia, in Riga.
The Embassy said Ghana’s ambassador to Germany, Prof. Ohene Adjei, participated in the visit and used the occasion to present copies of his letters of credence to Latvia’s foreign ministry.
The discussions add to a series of contacts aimed at building Ghana–Latvia ties through political dialogue, security coordination and practical economic cooperation in areas such as ICT, energy and agriculture.
