By Hannah Dadzie
Ghana and Zimbabwe are placing economic cooperation at the center of their renewed diplomatic engagement, as both countries push to unlock trade and investment opportunities under a new bilateral framework.
Speaking at the inaugural Ministerial Meeting of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) in Accra, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stressed the need to make trade and investment the cornerstone of relations between the two countries.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that despite decades of strong political ties, economic collaboration has not reached its full potential.
“Trade and investment must become a central pillar of the Ghana-Zimbabwe partnership if we are to deliver real economic growth and job creation for our people,” he said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, Professor Amon Murwira, echoed similar sentiments, calling for a shift toward what he described as “prosperity-driven diplomacy.”
According to him, diplomatic relations must translate into tangible benefits such as food security, industrial growth, and improved livelihoods.
“Diplomacy must produce food, water, and prosperity. Without that, it has no meaning,” he emphasized.
Both countries are now looking to leverage their strategic positions on the continent to boost intra-African trade. Ghana hosts the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning it as a gateway to West African markets, while Zimbabwe provides access to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
They believe this geographic advantage could help create stronger regional value chains and reduce dependence on external markets.
The two sides are exploring several areas of cooperation, including agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Zimbabwe is expected to increase exports of products such as beef, sugar, and maize seed, while Ghana is looking to expand its footprint in cocoa-based products, textiles, shea butter, and traditional cosmetics.
There are also plans to deepen collaboration in the mining sector, particularly in value addition and environmentally responsible extraction of minerals such as gold, lithium, and diamonds.
A key proposal under discussion is the establishment of trade warehouses in both countries to facilitate the storage and distribution of goods, alongside improved transportation links to ease the movement of products between Accra and Harare. Professor Murwira stressed the importance of direct trade routes within the continent.
“We must stop sending our goods outside Africa only for them to return. Trade must move directly between African countries,” he said.
Private sector participation is also expected to play a critical role, with both governments encouraging joint ventures and business-to-business partnerships to drive growth.
The outcomes of the discussions are expected to feed into agreements to be signed during the upcoming state visit of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which officials say could mark a turning point in economic relations between the two countries.
