President John Dramani Mahama held bilateral meeting with the President of Zimbabwe, H.E. Emmerson Mnangagwa, focusing on strengthening economic cooperation, regional integration and shared development priorities between Ghana and Zimbabwe.
President Mahama underscored the urgency of deepening intra-African collaboration, noting that the meeting comes at a critical time as the continent advances the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He emphasised the need for African countries to strengthen trade, investment, and cooperation to unlock the full potential of the agreement.
Highlighting Ghana’s role as host of the AfCFTA Secretariat, President Mahama reaffirmed the country’s commitment to promoting economic integration. He noted that Ghana’s strategic position within ECOWAS, alongside Zimbabwe’s role within SADC, presents a unique opportunity to strengthen linkages between West and Southern Africa.
The President further identified key sectors for enhanced collaboration, including mining and agriculture. He stressed the importance of responsible mining practices, value addition, and beneficiation to ensure Africa retains greater value from its natural resources. In agriculture, he acknowledged Zimbabwe’s experience as valuable in supporting Ghana’s efforts to build resilient systems, strengthen food security, and modernise the sector.
President Mnangagwa, in his remarks, reaffirmed the deep historical and fraternal ties between Ghana and Zimbabwe, rooted in the shared struggle for self-determination following Ghana’s independence in 1957. He paid tribute to Ghana’s role in supporting liberation movements, noting its contribution to military training, as well as moral, political, and diplomatic support during the liberation era.
He emphasised that the enduring bonds between the two nations are grounded in Pan-African ideals, mutual respect, and a shared vision for prosperity. President Mnangagwa further highlighted the importance of leveraging platforms such as the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) to deepen collaboration across key sectors, including trade, energy, tourism, labour, and industrial development.
Both leaders called for increased utilisation of opportunities under the AfCFTA to boost economic cooperation and promote business-to-business engagements. They also stressed the need for knowledge sharing in areas such as sustainable mining, healthcare innovation, and local manufacturing of essential goods.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Ghana and Zimbabwe to advancing African unity, economic transformation, and a future of peace, prosperity, and strengthened bilateral relations.