Accra: Russia is seeking to elevate its longstanding partnership with Ghana through expanded cooperation in trade, technology, education, energy, and diplomacy, according to the country's Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Andrei Ordash. In this exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Ambassador outlines Moscow's vision for a stronger strategic relationship, describing Ghana as a reliable and promising partner in West Africa with significant potential for deeper bilateral engagement.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ambassador Ordash discusses Russia's plans to support Ghana's economic transformation through investments in agriculture, nuclear energy, digital innovation, and artificial intelligence, while highlighting opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He also speaks about expanding educational exchanges, people-to-people relations, and preparations for the Third Russia-Africa Summit, offering insights into Russia's evolving partnership with Ghana and the African continent.
Ghana and Russia have maintained cordial diplomatic relations since 1958. As they approach the 70th anniversary of these ties, set to be marked in 2028, Ambassador Ordash emphasizes the positive and dynamically developing state of Russian-Ghanaian relations. He points out that trade between the two countries has grown from $247 million in 2022 to more than $800 million in 2024, with Ghana rising to eighth place in Africa in terms of GDP by the end of 2025.
As part of his diplomatic mission, Ambassador Ordash aims to focus on strengthening political dialogue, including coordination within the UN and other international organizations. He highlights shared values and a commitment to justice, as demonstrated by Ghana's initiative at the UN to recognize the slave trade of Africans as a crime against humanity, a move strongly supported by Russia.
Ambassador Ordash also outlines plans to stimulate stronger business-to-business partnerships in sectors such as agriculture, energy, mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Notably, a memorandum of understanding between the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and Rosatom lays the groundwork for a nuclear power station project in Ghana. Furthermore, the Ambassador envisions establishing agro-industrial production facilities on Ghanaian territory and sees Ghana as a key partner for accessing the African market within the AfCFTA framework.
Education remains a cornerstone of Ghana-Russia cooperation, with over 600 Ghanaian students currently studying in Russia. The Ambassador plans to expand educational scholarships and develop Russian language teaching programs, aiming to strengthen the people-to-people ties that have historically bonded the two nations. Additionally, partnerships between Russian and Ghanaian universities are being cultivated to foster academic exchanges and joint research projects.
In the realm of digital transformation, Russia is keen to collaborate with Ghana in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital innovation, and digital healthcare. The Third Russia-Africa Summit will further focus on these technological partnerships, aiming to define a strategic direction for future cooperation.
Looking ahead to the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit, Ambassador Ordash underscores the importance of this event in shaping a multipolar world. The summit is expected to yield an Action Plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for 2027-2029, strengthening economic, trade, cultural, and educational ties. Ghana's role as a reliable partner in West Africa is highlighted, with bilateral consultations contributing to the summit's preparations.
As Ambassador Ordash embarks on his mission, he conveys a message of partnership, technological collaboration, and mutual respect to the Government of Ghana, its private sector, and its people. He envisions a future where trust between the nations deepens, trade flourishes, educational exchanges expand, and the two countries grow even closer on the international stage.