The Ambassador of Cuba to Ghana, Mr. Pedro Luis Despaigne González, presented the Cuban Report on Resolution 72/4 of the UN General Assembly, entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba".
The presentation took place through a Press Conference with the presence of journalists from 26 Ghanaian press media (written, radio and television). Also attending were members of organizations that are part of the solidarity campaign with Cuba in Ghana, such as the Socialist Forum of Ghana; the Association of Ghanaian Graduates in Cuba (ESBECAN); the All-African People's Revolutionary Party (A-APRP); students of the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana. Other attendees were the Acting Director of Africa and the Middle East of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Ms Yahimí Rodríguez Flores, who is in Ghana as part of an African tour; as well as representatives of the Cuban community residing in the country.
The Cuban diplomat addressed the negative effects of the blockade for the comprehensive development of Cuba, and emphasized how that policy of economic warfare is rejected by the vast majority of the member states of the UN, which for 26 consecutive years have voted against the blockade. He also argued that the blockade also affects third countries in their economic and trade relations with Cuba, and the US citizens themselves, who suffer from the effects of the restrictions contained in that policy of hostility.
The Ambassador thanked the African governments for their solidarity, which through the African Union, to which Ghana is a part, has reiterated for nine consecutive times their common position against the unjust policy; the last was during the 30th Summit held in January 2018 in Addis Ababa. The Cuban diplomat also confirmed the commitment of the Cuban people to continue defending their independence, their national sovereignty and their social achievements.
After the presentation, the Ambassador answered a group of questions that covered aspects of current Cuban affairs, including the process of discussion of the Draft Constitution, up to the state of relations between the United States and Cuba under the administration of President Donald Trump.
In favor of the lifting of the blockade and in solidarity with Cuba, representatives of the organizations in the event, for example ESBECAN, which in the person of Mr. Benjamin Anyagre, highlighted his support for Cuba in the fight against the blockade, and the recognition of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, for promoting the formation in the Cuban classrooms of thousands of young Ghanaians of both sexes.
After the Press Conference, the Cuban Ambassador was interviewed by 12 of the press media present.