Regional News of Monday, 28 October 2013

Source: GBC

Cuba seeks Ghana’s assistance in fight for release of Cuban 5

Cuba is calling on Ghana to aid it in fighting for the release of the Cuban five from US prisons.

The Five Cubans were jailed in the US for allegedly committing espionage, conspiring against the US among other charges in 2001.

The appeal was made by the Deputy Minister of foreign affairs of Cuba Ana Teresita Fraga when she paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho.

She recognised Ghana as having a strong voice, thus joining the crusade for the release of the prisoners will speak volumes.

She also made a case for the setting up of a Ghana Cuba solidarity group in Parliament to further entrench the bilateral relations.

The Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho, said over the years, the bond between Havana and Accra has grown stronger with all Presidents visiting Cuba at one point or the other.

He said the parliamentary friendship association has been on the drawing board for a long time. He however assured the Cuban delegation of his commitment to seeing the group come into being. He paid glowing tribute to the late Professor Kofi Awoonor, once Ghana's Ambassador to Cuba, as a man who had fought for closer ties between the two countries.

He praised Cuba for always being on the side of Ghana.

He mentioned for instance, the annual deployment of Cuban doctors.

Mr. Adjaho threw an invitation to the speaker of the Cuban Parliament to visit the country.