Accra: President John Dramani Mahama and his visiting Zimbabwean counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa have taken the relationship between their two nations to another level with the signing of 10 landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in Accra. This development was reached at the end of a bilateral meeting between the two countries held at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mnangagwa is in Accra for a three-day state visit, which began on April 1, at the invitation of President Mahama. The MoUs entered into between the two countries include the signing of the agreed minutes of the inaugural session of the Ghana-Zimbabwe Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) and MoU on Cooperation in Political and Diplomatic Consultations. Other agreements cover Research, Training and Documentation in Foreign Services Institutes, Sports and Recreation Development, Health, Energy, Archives, Tourism, and collaborations between ZIM-Trade and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and between the Institute of African Knowledge and the Ghana Museum and Monument Board.
President John Dramani Mahama in his closing remarks said President Mnangagwa's visit was a great honor to Ghanaians and reaffirms a long-standing bond of friendship, solidarity, and shared history between Ghana and Zimbabwe. He emphasized that Ghana's historic ties with Zimbabwe date back to the era of their founding leaders and the shared struggle for African liberation, which remains a strong foundation for their relationship even today.
During their bilateral discussions, the two delegations held comprehensive and productive talks aimed at deepening cooperation across a broad range of priority sectors. They identified political and diplomatic consultations, energy, tourism, health, trade and investment, defense and security, education, agriculture, mining, media, labor, sports and recreation, heritage collaboration, archives, and waste management as key areas of focus.
The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to harnessing significant opportunities between their two countries for mutual benefits. They resolved to strengthen economic cooperation by building a dynamic, mutually beneficial partnership driven by expanded trade, targeted investments, and greater private sector participation. President Mahama encouraged the Ghana-Zimbabwe business roundtable and the business communities of both countries to translate policy intentions into practical and lasting partnerships.
The Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation will meet every two years on a rotational basis with annual mid-term reviews and regular consultations between senior officials to ensure that the commitments made are sustained and effectively implemented. A major outcome of the state visit was the signing of 10 MoUs across key sectors, including political and diplomatic consultations, energy tourism, sports, trade and investment, archives, foreign service training, and waste management.
On continental and global issues, the leaders affirmed their shared commitment to Pan-Africanism, African solidarity, and closer collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations, and other multilateral platforms. They expressed concern over current global geopolitical developments and rising tensions in various regions and reiterated the importance of upholding international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
President Mnangagwa expressed appreciation for Ghana's continued commitment in advocating for the unconditional removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. The state visit was described as productive, substantive, and forward-looking, providing a clear roadmap, renewed political will, and fresh momentum to deepen the relations between Ghana and Zimbabwe.