By Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana and Zambia must move beyond political dialogue and build stronger bilateral economic cooperation to deliver real benefits for their people.
Speaking at the State House in Lusaka during a three-day state visit to Zambia at a bilateral meeting on Thursday, February 5, 2026, President Mahama said the long-standing friendship between the two countries should now translate into concrete economic partnerships, especially in areas such as mining, agriculture, and trade.
President Mahama thanked the Zambian government and people for the warm reception given to him and his delegation upon their arrival. He said the enthusiasm, cultural displays, and hospitality made the delegation feel at home.
He noted that relations between Ghana and Zambia date back to the era of Africa’s liberation struggle, when Ghana became a base for freedom fighters after its first President declared that Ghana’s independence was meaningless unless it was linked to the total liberation of Africa.
President Mahama said decades after independence, African countries are now better placed to appreciate the call for unity, especially as divisions on the continent have slowed development and prosperity.
He said both Ghana and Zambia are currently facing similar economic challenges, including debt restructuring and the implementation of economic reforms aimed at achieving fiscal consolidation. According to him, this puts the two countries on the same path and creates an opportunity to learn from each other.
The President disclosed that discussions with his Zambian counterpart covered key sectors such as mining, where both countries face challenges with artisanal, small-scale, and large-scale mining operations. He said they also explored cooperation in agriculture, production, and cross-border marketing of goods.
He said Ghana and Zambia have agreed to strengthen their Permanent Joint Commission and raise bilateral relations to a higher level that allows for continuous dialogue, sharing of best practices, and real-time cooperation across sectors.
President Mahama expressed optimism that enhanced economic partnership arrangements would help both countries recapture the spirit of cooperation that existed between their first presidents and help win the next battle of economic transformation.
