Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have reaffirmed the longstanding ties between their nations, pledging to deepen cooperation in key strategic sectors. The commitment was made during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit, held alongside the maiden Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt. This meeting highlights the ongoing efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries.
The two leaders reflected on the foundational bond between Ghana and Egypt, recalling the pan-African vision established during the era of Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Egypt's former President, Gamal Abdel Nasser. They agreed that building on this historic foundation remains vital for addressing contemporary regional development goals. This shared vision is expected to guide their future collaborations.
President Mahama expressed his gratitude to Egypt for supporting Ghana's resolution on reparations at the United Nations. He urged Egypt to maintain its backing as the international dialogue continues. This support is seen as a significant aspect of their bilateral relationship, with Ghana valuing Egypt's stance on this matter.
To boost bilateral trade, the two leaders discussed concrete steps to strengthen political consultations and expand commercial activities. A key area of focus was the pharmaceutical sector, with discussions centred on streamlining and facilitating the registration of Egyptian pharmaceutical products in Ghana. This move aims to improve healthcare access and foster investment in the sector.
Defence and regional security were also major agenda items during the bilateral meeting. President Mahama expressed Ghana's desire to expand security collaboration with Egypt, citing the North African nation's advanced defence industry as a valuable model. He called for broader cooperation, particularly in intelligence sharing, capacity building, and counter-terrorism initiatives.
The bilateral discussions further covered support for the Sahel-Gulf of Guinea Accord and the development of social housing. Ghana is looking to learn from Egypt's experience in addressing regional security challenges. The two countries also explored ways to enhance their cooperation in the infrastructure sector.
President Mahama revealed Ghana's interest in learning from Egypt's technical experience in developing mega-infrastructure projects, specifically the New Administrative Capital. Ghana aims to draw insights from Egypt's execution of this project as it advances its own strategic plans for a new capital city. This exchange of expertise is expected to benefit both nations in their urban planning endeavours.
Key points
- Ghana and Egypt have pledged to deepen cooperation in defence, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure.
- The two nations aim to strengthen political consultations and expand commercial activities.
- Ghana seeks to learn from Egypt's experience in developing mega-infrastructure projects.
