President John Dramani Mahama and his visiting Zimbabwean counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa have taken the relation between their two nations to another level with the signing of 10 landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in Accra.
This was reached at the end of a bilateral meeting between two countries held at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region.
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.
Others are MoU on Research, Training and Documentation in Foreign Services Institutes between the two countries, MoU on Cooperation in the field of Sports and Recreation Development and the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health.
MoU on Cooperation in the field of Energy, MoU on Cooperation in the field of Archives, and MoU on Cooperation in the field of Tourism.
The rest are MoU between ZIM-Trade and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and MoU between the Institute of African Knowledge and the Ghana Museum and Monument Board in collaboration in African liberation project.
There was however, an 11th one which was between two private companies – Zoomlion Ghana Limited and Geo Pomona Waste Management (Pvt) Ltd.
President John Dramani Mahama in his closing remarks said President Mnangagwa’s visit was a great honour to Ghanaians and that it reaffirms a long-standing bond of friendship, solidarity and shared history between Ghana and Zimbabwe.
He said Ghana’s historic ties with Zimbabwe date back to the era of their founding leaders and the shared struggle for African liberation and remain a strong foundation for their relationship even today.
“We are therefore greatly encouraged by our renewed resolve to elevate the partnership between our two countries to a higher and more strategic level,” he said.
He said during their bilateral discussions, their two delegations held comprehensive, forward-looking and highly productive talks aimed at deepening cooperation across a broad range of priority sectors.
He mentioned them as political and diplomatic consultations, energy, tourism, health, trade and investment, defense and security, education, agriculture, mining, media, labour, sports and recreation, heritage collaboration, archives and waste management.
He said in the course of their deliberations, they reaffirmed their shared commitment to harnessing the significant opportunities that existed between their two countries for the mutual benefits of their people.
He said in particular, they resolved to strengthen economic cooperation by building a more dynamic, mutually beneficial partnership driven by expanded trade, targeted investments and greater private sector participation.
“In this regard, we welcome the efforts of the Ghana-Zimbabwe business roundtable and encourage the business communities of both countries to translate our policy intentions into practical and lasting partnerships.” President Mahama said.
“We also agree to strengthen the institutional mechanisms underpinning Ghana-Zimbabwe cooperation”.
He said 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 that they had made were sustained and effectively implemented.
President Mahama said a major outcome of this state visit had been 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.
These agreements, he said reflected the breadth of their cooperation and the seriousness of their commitment to give practical meaning to the relations between our two countries.
“Our two governments are determined to ensure their full and effective implementation so that our people may derive measurable and lasting benefits from them”.
President Mahama said on continental and global issues, they affirm their shared commitment to Pan-Africanism, African solidarity and closer collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations and other multilateral platforms.
He said they would continue to work to advance their common positions and protect their shared interests in an increasingly complex international environment.
President Mahama said they also reviewed the current geopolitical situation marked by deepening conflict, supply chain disruptions and volatility in global energy markets.
He said their exchanged views on these developments and reiterated the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and adherence to international law in addressing current global challenges.
President Mahama said they remained committed to supporting a just and equitable international world order that fairly serves the interests of all nations.
He said the state visit had been productive, substantive and forward-looking.
“It has provided us with a clear roadmap, renewed political will and fresh momentum to deepen the relations between Ghana and Zimbabwe.”
On his part, President Mnangagwa expressed appreciation for Ghana’s continued commitment in advocating for the unconditional removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
The two Heads of State expressed concern over current global geopolitical developments and rising tensions in various regions.
They reaffirmed the importance of upholding international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, including the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.
