President Mahama and Malian Counterpart Hold Bilateral Discussions

President John Dramani Mahama has paid an official visit to his Malian counterpart, President General Assimi Goita, in Bamako. The visit forms part of President Mahama’s efforts to consolidate Ghana’s good neighbourliness policy by engaging with leaders of neighbouring countries.
During their meeting, the two leaders held discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and economic partnerships.
They also explored avenues for improving defence collaboration, especially in light of the fight against terrorism and recent geopolitical changes in the region.

Trade and economic ties
President Mahama emphasized the longstanding economic relations between Ghana and Mali.
He noted that both nations have historically engaged in trade, with Ghana serving as a major transit hub for Malian goods.
“We know that for a very long time, our countries have traded among each other. Our people travel freely among each other. There is a big Malian population living in Ghana, they are involved in business, they are settled peacefully in Ghana, they are actually citizens of both Ghana and Mali,” President Mahama said.
The leaders deliberated on strengthening economic corridors between the two countries, ensuring seamless movement of goods and services.
They also discussed ways to eliminate challenges faced by transport operators moving between Ghana and Mali.
Defence Cooperation Against TerrorismA key focus of their discussions was security cooperation, especially regarding terrorism threats in the Sahel region.
President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s commitment to working with Mali and other partners in countering terrorism, emphasizing that instability in one country poses a threat to the entire sub-region.
“We discussed strengthening our defence cooperation in the fight against terrorism and how Ghana could be of help in terms of cooperating with the Alliance of Sahel States,” he stated.
Navigating Regional Political ShiftsThe recent departure of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) was another critical issue on the agenda.
President Mahama acknowledged the complexities surrounding this decision but stressed the importance of maintaining strong diplomatic ties.
“We recognize that there have been issues of trust between ECOWAS and AES. At the same time, I think we must have mutual respect for each other. If we build on trust, we should be able to work together,” he noted.
He added that despite the political shift, Ghana remains committed to fostering bilateral relations with Mali, emphasizing that both nations share historical and cultural bonds that transcend political affiliations.
High-Level Delegation in AttendancePresident Mahama was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications; Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Stan Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency in charge of Operations; and Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Special Envoy for the Alliance of Sahel States.

The visit marked a significant step in strengthening the long-standing diplomatic, economic, and security relations between Ghana and Mali.