St John's:Antigua President John Dramani Mahama engaged in bilateral talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in St John's, Antigua and Barbuda. The discussions focused on the Ghana-Canada relationship and challenges facing multilateral cooperation.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama reflected on the historical ties between the two nations, noting Canada's past role as Ghana's leading creditor and the significant contribution of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to development in rural northern Ghana. He expressed a desire to build on Canada's favorable reputation in Ghana and commended Prime Minister Carney's stance on global multilateralism issues.
President Mahama highlighted the tariffs Canada faces and discussed the challenges Africa encounters in the global system, such as high borrowing rates and climate crisis impacts despite minimal contributions. He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with nations like Canada that support a rule-based, multilateral system.
The meeting highlighted Ghana's interest in enhancing cooperation with Canada amid shifting global trade dynamics. Prime Minister Carney indicated Canada's readiness to collaborate with Ghana in sectors like energy, critical minerals, trade, and development.