Ghana and Gabon have agreed to significantly strengthen economic ties, pursue mutual development, and leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to accelerate industrial growth in both nations.
The agreement was reached during bilateral talks at the Presidency in Accra between President John Dramani Mahama and President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon, who was on an official visit to Ghana alongside a delegation of ministers, senior state officials, and business leaders. President Mahama welcomed the Gabonese leader at the Accra International Airport, where President Oligui Nguema inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the Ghana Navy.
The visit concluded with the signing of two foundational agreements: a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations between the two nations' Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and an MoU on diplomatic training linking Ghana’s Foreign Service Institute with Gabon’s Institute of Diplomatic Studies.
A joint communiqué outlined cooperation across twelve priority sectors, with both heads of state directing their respective sector ministers to set up immediate operational frameworks to execute the initiatives:
Resource Management & Energy: Sharing expertise in responsible mining, adding value to gold and manganese production, advancing petroleum exploration, and driving the energy transition.
Agriculture & Fisheries: Focusing on commercial farming, seed development, agro-processing, aquaculture, and launching joint initiatives to combat illegal fishing.
Forestry & Climate Action: Pursuing joint carbon credit schemes by blending Gabon’s rainforest conservation strategies with Ghana’s climate resilience programs.
Defence & Maritime Security: Enhancing ocean governance, intelligence sharing, and joint operations against piracy and transnational crime in the Gulf of Guinea.
Education & Digital Innovation: Establishing university exchange programs, mutual English-French language training, and collaborating on cybersecurity and digital transformation.
Health & Tourism: Strengthening public health systems, securing pharmaceutical supply chains, and developing eco-tourism initiatives.
Reaffirming their shared vision beyond bilateral trade, both leaders pledged continued commitment to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
