President of Kenya expected to visit Guyana

…as VP prepares for visit to Ghana

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to lead a delegation to Guyana to foster bilateral ties with this South American nation.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

The announcement was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a press conference on Friday as he wrapped up his visit to New York to attend the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
On the sidelines of that event, the Guyanese Head of State and his contingent which included Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Foreign Minister Hugh Todd, and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, held discussions with a number of global leaders and potential investors.
This has resulted in huge interest from countries across the globe which have committed to sending delegations to Guyana.
“We have the President of Kenya and a delegation who will be coming to Guyana in a few weeks’ time,” President Ali revealed, noting that other delegations will be coming.
In November 2019, the first High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana was accredited by then President David Granger.
In his remarks at the time, the Kenyan High Commissioner Anthony Muchiri said he would work to foster a closer relationship with Guyana, particularly in the areas of trade and investment.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta

Guyana and Kenya have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in December 1970. The relationship is founded on the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law, and the maintenance of international peace and security.
Upon his assumption to office in August 2020, President Ali had received a congratulatory letter from the Kenyan President, who expressed a desire for closer relations between the two countries.
“I look forward to collaborating with you to develop closer relations between our countries and revitalising our mutual relations at [the] bilateral and multilateral levels,” President Kenyatta had stated.

Ghana
Meanwhile, as Guyana seeks to strengthen ties with African nations, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to lead a delegation to Ghana in the first week of October.
“That’s an important engagement in Ghana to deal with the oil and gas sector and to see how we can have technology transfer and integration between the two countries,” President Ali explained during his press conference.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, President Ali and the Guyanese delegation had met with Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and both sides renewed their commitment to strengthening relations between the two countries.
The Presidents spoke about several matters of mutual interest, including oil and gas, climate change and the environment, capacity building, and training.
The Ghanaian President had visited Guyana in 2019 and on that visit, Ghana entered into two agreements with the Guyana Government.
The two nations signed an agreement that will see Ghana lending technical support to Guyana’s oil and gas industry and the other agreement was to abolish visa requirements for citizens of the two States.
Guyana and Ghana established diplomatic relations on May 14, 1979. (G11)