The non-resident Ambassador-designate of the Slovak Republic to Ghana, Martin Podstavek, has presented his Open Letters to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as the two countries seek to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, defence and other strategic sectors.
The presentation took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra on Monday, November 9, 2026, and provided an opportunity for discussions on expanding cooperation between Accra and Bratislava.
Ablakwa congratulated Podstavek on his appointment and reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to deepen relations with the Slovak Republic, particularly in the automotive industry, electric vehicle development, banking, pharmaceuticals and mass transportation.
He also identified defence and security as important areas for enhanced cooperation and welcomed Slovakia’s interest in negotiating a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
Podstavek described Ghana as an important partner of the Slovak Republic and called for stronger political and economic consultations to advance bilateral relations.
He further proposed a review of existing bilateral agreements to ensure they reflect the evolving partnership and provide a framework for expanding cooperation, particularly in defence and security.
The Ambassador-designate also informed the Minister about an upcoming Ghana-Slovak Business Forum scheduled to take place in the Slovak Republic in 2026, encouraging greater participation by Ghanaian businesses.
He expressed the hope that Ghana would host a similar business forum in 2027 to further strengthen commercial relations and create opportunities for businesses from both countries.
Diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Slovak Republic were formally established on October 1, 1993, following Slovakia’s emergence as an independent state after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
However, Ghana’s economic engagement with the former Czechoslovakia predates Slovakia’s independence, with the two countries having signed an economic cooperation agreement in 1961, followed by additional protocols in 1964 and subsequent agreements. These earlier arrangements provide a historical foundation for understanding the economic links between Ghana and the former Czechoslovak state.
The two countries currently maintain diplomatic representation through non-resident arrangements, with the Slovak Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, accredited to Ghana, while Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Prague, Czech Republic, is accredited to the Slovak Republic.
Their renewed interest in political consultations, reviewing existing agreements and organising business forums signals an effort to translate their diplomatic relationship into broader economic, security and commercial partnerships.
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