Ghana and Gabon have strengthened their longstanding diplomatic and economic relations with the signing of 12 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at expanding cooperation in key sectors including transport, health, education, mining, defence, maritime affairs and trade.
The agreements were signed on Tuesday, July 28, during the three-day state visit of Gabonese President, His Excellency Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, to Ghana at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama.
President Oligui Nguema arrived in Accra with a high-level delegation of ministers and senior government officials. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Jubilee House before holding a private meeting with President Mahama, followed by official bilateral talks.
The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in areas such as trade and investment, mining and mineral value addition, energy, agriculture, fisheries, transport, maritime affairs, education, health, tourism, digital transformation, defence, environmental protection and diplomatic cooperation.
Addressing the joint engagement, President Mahama said the two countries were determined to transform their strong political relationship into practical economic partnerships that would create opportunities for their citizens.
He stressed the importance of creating a favourable environment for businesses in both countries to collaborate.
“To facilitate investment flows and create an enabling environment for businesses in both countries to collaborate in the areas of manufacturing, agribusiness, transport and logistics, infrastructure development, financial services and value addition,” President Mahama said.
The President also highlighted the shared responsibility of both countries as coastal states along the Gulf of Guinea.
“As maritime nations bordering the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana and Gabon have a shared interest in promoting maritime security, combating piracy and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, protecting the marine ecosystem and advancing the blue economy as a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth,” President Mahama said.
The two leaders further underscored the need to leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to increase intra-African trade and accelerate regional economic integration.
President Oligui Nguema praised Ghana’s efforts to improve infrastructure and promote regional connectivity, noting that stronger cooperation in transport and logistics would further support Pan-African integration.
“I commend Ghana’s commitment to rebuilding infrastructure and improving the movement of goods and services in support of Pan-African integration. I have instructed my Ministers responsible for Infrastructure and Transport to prepare a detailed report within the coming months so that we can further strengthen cooperation in these areas,” President Nguema stated.
The Gabonese leader also expressed interest in expanding educational collaboration between the two countries, particularly following recent changes to France’s scholarship policy for foreign students.
“After the recent measures that were taken with respect to decisions that the French government took regarding scholarships for foreign students, and I think that it will be proper for us to look into this direction to see how universities here in Ghana can welcome our students. We cannot compromise the future of our youth and also the construction of our universities in Gabon because the scholarships fees in France have increased and we have decided to redirect our youth to other African countries. It is the same training that is available in our fellow African countries and I think that we can have discussions in this regard,” President Nguema noted.
The two Presidents also reaffirmed their commitment to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while pledging continued collaboration to promote democracy, regional peace, security and sustainable development across Africa. They further called on African countries to reject xenophobia and all forms of discrimination that undermine the continent’s unity and progress.
As part of the visit, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Gabon’s Foreign Minister, Marie-Edith Dombeneni, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective governments.
President Oligui Nguema also participated in a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at the Jubilee House and later visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum, where he paid tribute to Ghana’s first President and Pan-African icon, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The visit will conclude with a state dinner in honour of the Gabonese President. He is also expected to lay wreaths at the Military Cemetery in memory of the victims of the August 6 helicopter crash before departing Ghana.
President Oligui Nguema has meanwhile invited President Mahama to undertake an official visit to Gabon at a mutually convenient date, an invitation that the Ghanaian leader has accepted.
