President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger economic cooperation between Ghana and Gabon, urging both countries to deepen collaboration in trade, investment and key productive sectors to drive sustainable growth and create jobs.
Speaking during bilateral talks with Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema at the Jubilee House, President Mahama said the long-standing friendship between the two countries should be transformed into a more ambitious and mutually beneficial partnership.
He noted that Ghana and Gabon have maintained warm diplomatic relations for more than six decades, built on mutual respect, Pan-African ideals and a shared commitment to peace, democratic governance and sustainable development.
“Our discussions today offer a valuable opportunity to identify concrete areas of cooperation that will translate our shared aspirations into tangible benefits for our people,” President Mahama said.
He stressed that trade and investment must remain central to the bilateral agenda, calling for stronger partnerships between the private sectors of both countries.
“We should encourage stronger partnership between our private sectors. We should 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,” he stated.
According to the President, expanding commercial exchanges between Ghana and Gabon would stimulate economic growth, create decent jobs and improve the competitiveness of both economies.
President Mahama also identified agriculture and fisheries as sectors with enormous potential for cooperation, saying the two maritime nations could work together in sustainable fisheries management, aquaculture development, fish processing, climate-smart agriculture, agricultural research and food security.
He further proposed enhanced collaboration in mining and natural resource governance through the sharing of expertise and best practices to promote responsible mining, local content development, environmental stewardship and transparent resource management.
On education, the President called for stronger partnerships between universities, technical institutions and research centres through scholarship programmes, faculty exchanges, scientific research and technical and vocational training to help build Africa’s skilled workforce.
President Mahama also highlighted climate change as a strategic area for collaboration, pointing to Gabon’s internationally recognised leadership in forest conservation and Ghana’s commitment to sustainable development.
He said both countries could work together on biodiversity conservation, carbon markets, renewable energy, climate resilience, sustainable forest management and advocacy for increased climate financing for Africa.
As maritime nations bordering the Gulf of Guinea, President Mahama said Ghana and Gabon also have a shared responsibility to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, combat piracy and illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems and promote the blue economy as a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to advancing intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying the country looks forward to working closely with Gabon to ensure businesses and citizens of both nations benefit from the opportunities created by the continental market.
President Mahama expressed confidence that the visit by President Nguema would deepen existing relations and open new avenues for cooperation that would advance regional integration, economic transformation and sustainable development across Africa.
