Accra: Mr. Philip Arthur, the outgoing President of the ESBECAN Association, has emphasized the necessity of establishing deliberate structures to facilitate the smooth transition of knowledge, networks, and leadership to the younger members of the association. He warned that without a clear strategy for integrating the youth, the association risked losing its expertise and influence as senior members retired in the coming decade.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Arthur made this call during the 7th ESBECAN Congress in Accra, themed ‘Promoting Unity, Strengthening Bonds.’ He proposed an official membership drive where newly returned professionals would receive automatic membership with a one-year moratorium on registration fees to ensure their immediate inclusion and mentorship. The ESBECAN Association, composed of Ghanaian professionals trained in Cuba under a cooperation program initiated in 1983 by the late President Jerry John Rawlings, has produced over 1,000 professionals including doctors, engineers, agronomists, pharmacists, and nurses.

Reflecting on his tenure, Mr. Arthur highlighted milestones such as the celebration of the association’s 40th anniversary in 2023, health outreach for communities in Bukom, and relief efforts for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage. He also noted an increase in government appointments for Cuban-trained professionals across key sectors, viewing this as evidence of their training’s value and expertise. However, he admitted to a procedural lapse in acquiring a permanent office for the association without prior constitutional approval, for which he apologized, urging members to endorse the acquisition as a strategic step to preserve the association’s institutional memory.

The outgoing president also called for establishing a health insurance scheme for members, constitutional amendments to strengthen executive accountability, and closer collaboration with Cuba, including leading campaigns against the U.S. embargo on the country. The congress received a solidarity message from Mr. Kyeretwie Opoku, Lawyer and Convener of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, who emphasized the unique responsibility of Cuban-trained professionals in Ghana’s social transformation.

Mr. Opoku remarked that the education and acculturation received in Cuba were not solely to produce professionals, but also social leaders equipped with values of solidarity, organization, and service to humanity. He noted that while many Cuban-trained professionals faced challenges reintegrating into Ghana’s systems, they had survived and proven resilient, possessing skills and convictions uncommon among Western-trained professionals, particularly a strong sense of social organization and value for humanity.

He urged ESBECAN members to extend their unity beyond professional service into political mobilization, envisioning a future where their contributions are meaningful and lasting.