President John Kufuor on Tuesday stressed the need for Ghana and Cuba to explore other areas of cooperation in addition to the health sector.
"Cuba had been very supportive of the health sector of Ghana and other sectors that could be explored were sugar production, education and sports," he said.
President Kufuor said this when Damodur Pena Penton, Cuban Minister of Health, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu. He said both countries had enjoyed profitable relations from the past and Cuban Doctors in Ghana had performed creditably, especially in the most remote parts of the country, where they accepted to work to provide quality health care to the people.
"They fit naturally into the Ghanaian society and this had helped to endear Cuba to the people," he said. President Kufuor said Ghana imports about $100m of sugar annually even though land suitable for the cultivation of sugar cane was available and farmers would be happy to cultivate the crop.
He said Cuba was a world leader in sugar production and with similar climatic conditions like Ghana this was one area both countries could cooperate for their mutual benefit.
President Kufuor said there was no doubt about the quality of education provided in Cuba by the government that had culminated in the efficient performance of the Cuban Doctors in Ghana and cooperation in the field of sports would be encouraging.
"All these have been on the drawing board of the government, we have to activate them to deepen the relationship between us," he said. Penton, who was on a visit to the country to monitor activities of the Cuba Doctors, expressed appreciation to the government for the cordial relationship between the two countries that shared many things in common.
He said the assistance being offered by the Cuban government was from the solidarity and deep feelings to share their capabilities with the Ghanaian society in the remote areas.
Penton said the increase in the number of the Cuban Doctors to Ghana was a result of the cooperation and assistance they had received from the personnel in the health sector and commended the government and the Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie for the support.
