Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has dismissed claims that the Ghanaian medical student who died in Cuba was as a result of neglect.
Mr. Erasmus Klutse, a 2nd year medical student at ELAM died on Friday 7th May, 2021. There were reports suggesting that the unfortunate incident happened due to non-availability of an ambulance and late attendance on the late Klutse by the Cuban health professionals.
Many have suggested that the events leading to his death were part of the general discrimination against Ghanaian students in Cuba.
But in a meeting with the Cuba’s Ambassador to Ghana, Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez, Mrs. Ayorkor Botchwey noted that briefs received by the Ghanaian authorities do not support the claim of neglect.
“We received the news with a lot of concern…but what is important is that he was not denied any kind of medical attention, that is very important,” she stressed.
She acknowledged the conflicting reports on social media, and said the relevant authorities are dealing with the matter and the ministry “is keenly following what is happening”.
The first information about what led to Mr. Klutse’s death “is not true but we will wait for the final report”, she reiterated.
She also ascertained from the Ambassador whether there were any complaints by the Cuban side regarding the management of Ghanaian students in Cuba.
Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Ghana expressed his condolences and promised to share the report on his death with the minister.
He emphasized that proper medical care is given to everybody living in Cuba and assured that nobody would be discriminated against.
“Nobody, never is going to be left unattended to in Cuba. The correct medical attention is done every time. So we are not going to forget that we are human beings, and we have to treat the others the same way we want to be treated. This is a very unfortunate situation but I can assure you that he received the best attention that we can give to him”.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister hoped that Ghana-Cuba relations will continue to flourish on all fronts for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
She referred to the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) and acknowledge the great potential it presents for increased intra-Africa trade and for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Cuba.
Mrs. Ayorkor Botchwety indicated that the Ministry is liaising with the relevant MDAs in Ghana for feedback on issues such as:
- the formalization of the Obligations Settlement Agreement (OSA) to be signed between the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Cuba as well as
- Stalled negotiations of the draft agreement under which a technical-assistance and consulting service contract will be entered into between the Cuban firm LABIOFAM and West Africa Bio Products Limited (WABP) with the consent of the Ghana National Petroluem Corporation (GNPC) for the construction of a malaria control bio-larvicide plant in Ghana.
