Deputy Minister Jiří Kozák discussed with his counterparts in the Ivory Coast and in Ghana the possibilities of strengthening all-round cooperation. The mission was mainly focused on the health sector. However, the discussion with partners also touched on the ongoing engagement of the Czech Republic in ensuring the security of the Sahel and mitigation of the effects of the food crisis caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine. Both Ivory Coast and Ghana, which are among the pillars of stability and development in West Africa, condemn this aggression.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jiří Kozák, accompanied by a delegation of members of Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Medical Devices and representatives of financial houses, visited Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana 18 – 20 July.

In both capitals, both ongoing and future collaboration in the field of healthcare was the central topic of discussion between Deputy Minister Kozák and Ministers of Healthcare Pierre Dimba and Kwaku Agyemang-Manu respectively. While Ghana is a traditional partner of the Czech Republic in this domain given the ongoing projects of building the regional hospitals or the very successful MEDEVAC program, Cote d’Ivoire represents an immense potential for enhanced cooperation. Concrete projects of regional centres of excellence in the healthcare sector to be equipped by Czech technology and financed by Czech banks were discussed.

Healthcare was nevertheless only one of delegation’s concerns. During his meeting with Ivorian Prime Minister Patrick Achi and both Ivorian and Ghanaian Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs Jiří Kozák expressed gratitude for both countries’ stance on the Russian aggression towards Ukraine and discussed the implications of associated food crisis, which directly affects the region of West Africa. He also emphasized the ongoing Czech involvement in ensuring the security of the Sahel.

During accompanying social events, which hosted representatives of local authorities and the diplomatic corps, the Deputy Minister officially launched the Czech presidency of the Council of the European Union in the region of West Africa.