ACUC Urges African Nations to Oppose U.S. Economic Blockade on Cuba

Accra: The AfriKan Continental Union Consult (ACUC) has made an appeal to African nations, urging them to vote against the United States' economic blockade on Cuba during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting.According to Ghana News Agency, the statement, signed by Dr. Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, CEO of ACUC, highlighted the upcoming UN General Assembly vote on October 28-29, 2025, as a pivotal moment for member states to reaffirm their commitment to justice, multilateralism, and human dignity. The consult praised the African Union for its consistent opposition to unilateral sanctions and coercive economic measures outside the UN Charter's framework.The statement emphasized Africa's longstanding solidarity with Cuba, rooted in historical ties during African liberation struggles. It commended the African Union for its principled stance and urged African states to continue their firm opposition to the blockade at the UN General Assembly.The ACUC noted that the African Union's 38th Summit reiterated its strong opposition to the ongoing economic, commercial, and financial blockade causing severe damage to the Cuban populace. The AU has, for the 16th consecutive time, condemned the blockade imposed by the North American government.As per the ACUC, the international community is facing heightened political pressure from the United States to abandon longstanding global consensus, justice, and respect for national sovereignty as the UN prepares for its annual vote. The blockade, in place for 64 years, is widely condemned as illegal under international law. Despite 33 consecutive years of UN votes to lift the blockade, the U.S., with Israel's routine support, continues to defy global opinion.The ACUC also lauded Ghana for its steadfast opposition to the blockade, citing President John Dramani Mahama's reaffirmation of Ghana's commitment to solidarity and international cooperation at the 80th UN General Assembly. This position has been reinforced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Oku dzeto Ablakwa, through diplomatic engagements with Cuba.The consult called on Ghana and other nations to maintain their unwavering opposition to the blockade, highlighting the severe human and economic costs involved. The blockade results in massive financial losses for Cuba, estimated at USD 629.6 million monthly, impacting vital sectors like tourism, education, health, and energy.The statement reported that the blockade has severely impacted tourism, with visitor numbers from the EU plummeting from 730,211 in 2019 to 324,032 in 2023. In education, Cuba faced USD 89.7 million in damages, halting the production of millions of textbooks.The blockade's impact extends to health and scientific sectors, with over USD 1 million in losses to the pharmaceutical industry. The energy sector also suffered, with USD 496 million in damages, leading to nationwide blackouts. The ACUC stressed that the blockade has been condemned in over 2,000 international events and declarations.