Gyakye Quayson urges stronger South-South cooperation at OACPS Summit

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister James Gyakye Quayson has called for stronger South-South cooperation to drive sustainable development among OACPS member states.

He made the call during the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from March 27 to 29.

The gathering focused on repositioning the organisation to respond effectively to emerging global challenges under the theme, “A Transformed and Renewed OACPS in a Changing World.”

Mr Quayson emphasised that strengthening collaboration among member states remains critical to unlocking shared growth opportunities.

He noted that “the meeting directly addresses the evolving challenges and opportunities confronting the Organisation,” adding that “a changing global landscape demands a renewed OACPS, one that is stronger, more responsive, and better positioned to advance the collective interests of its Member States.”

Highlighting Ghana’s position, he outlined key proposals aimed at deepening cooperation across the bloc.

These include enhancing connectivity through joint investments in maritime and air transport to facilitate trade, as well as institutionalising annual meetings of Ministers of Trade and Finance to coordinate investment decisions.

He also pointed to the need for stronger collaboration among entrepreneurs to unlock value chains and drive industrial transformation.

Mr Quayson further advocated for policies that promote labour mobility to address skills gaps and improve productivity across member states.

He stressed that joint investments and coordinated strategies would ensure that countries derive maximum benefit from their natural resources.

According to him, such collective efforts are essential to building a more integrated and resilient OACPS capable of navigating an increasingly complex global environment.