Omanghana
President John Dramani Mahama has held high-level bilateral talks with Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, at the State House in Arusha. The meeting focused on strengthening diplomatic relations between Ghana and Tanzania while advancing broader cooperation across the African continent.
The discussions were held in the spirit of Pan-African solidarity and addressed issues ranging from bilateral partnerships to regional and global developments. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation between their countries and expanding collaboration in key areas of development.
During the talks, President Mahama expressed concern about the escalating tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as retaliatory actions affecting Gulf states. He warned that instability in the region could have serious economic consequences globally, particularly for African economies that depend heavily on stable crude oil prices and energy supplies.
Both leaders also reflected on the historic partnership between Ghana’s founding president, Kwame Nkrumah, and Tanzania’s founding leader, Julius Nyerere, noting that their legacy continues to shape relations between the two countries. They agreed on the need to revitalize structured bilateral engagement and accelerate the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation. Plans are also underway for a future state visit that would formalize new bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding.
On economic transformation and resource governance, President Mahama highlighted reforms in Ghana’s gold sector, revealing that small-scale gold exports increased from 63 to 104 metric tonnes within nine months, contributing nearly $10 billion to the national economy. He stressed the importance of resource sovereignty and value addition, announcing that Ghana plans to move away from external cocoa financing arrangements and instead mobilize domestic resources to purchase at least 400,000 metric tonnes of cocoa annually for local processing.
President Mahama is in Arusha as the Special Guest of Honour for the 20th anniversary and the opening of the 2026 legal year of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. During the visit, he described the court as an important institution for justice and human rights in Africa and encouraged countries that have not yet ratified its founding protocol to do so.
The Ghanaian leader also commended President Hassan for establishing an independent Commission of Inquiry and plans for a national Reconciliation Commission following Tanzania’s recent elections. According to Mahama, such initiatives demonstrate democratic maturity and help strengthen national unity and multiparty governance.
In his role as the African Union Champion for Reparations, President Mahama further revealed that a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity will be presented before the United Nations General Assembly on March 25. He also expressed appreciation for Tanzania’s continued support for the reparations agenda.
Source: Omanghana
