Venezuela is seeking agreements with Ghana in oil and gas, cocoa processing and other sectors as the South American country looks to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with West Africa.
Venezuelan Ambassador to Ghana Jesus Garcia presented the proposal during a meeting with Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister James Gyakye Quayson, expressing his country’s interest in signing memoranda of understanding in several areas of cooperation.
The proposed areas include aviation, education, oil and gas, tourism, military cooperation and cocoa processing.
Garcia said Venezuela, which holds some of the world’s largest oil reserves, sees potential for mutually beneficial cooperation with Ghana in the energy sector. He also said Venezuelan technology could help Ghana reduce losses associated with cocoa diseases through improved processing and related interventions.
The ambassador further disclosed that Venezuela intends to establish a resident embassy in Ghana as soon as possible, describing the country as a strategic partner in the sub-region. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1969.
Quayson welcomed the proposed cooperation, saying Ghana sees opportunities for economic gains through partnerships with countries with shared development interests. He also pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a platform for expanding trade and called for stronger economic cooperation among African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
Garcia also congratulated Ghana on the adoption of a Ghana-led United Nations General Assembly resolution on March 25, 2026, declaring the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement the gravest crime against humanity.
Quayson, meanwhile, expressed concern about Venezuela’s current political situation and said he hoped it would normalise.
