On Sunday, President John Dramani Mahama travelled to Niamey, Niger to hold talks with General Abdourahamane Tchiani, President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
The two leaders held closed-door meetings and later an expanded bilateral meeting with their delegations in the presidential palace.
A communique issued after the engagements confirmed that discussions focused on enhanced security cooperation in the Sahel and West African region to combat terrorism, improved and unimpeded trade between the two countries, and strengthening bilateral ties.
President Tchiani raised the need for collaboration and recognition of the Alliance of Sahel States by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with President Mahama emphasising the need for greater collaboration to fight terrorism, which threatens not only the Sahel region but also countries further down towards the coast.
Mr Mahama used the occasion to thank his Nigerien counterpart for sending a delegation to his inauguration on January 7, 2025, noting that Ghana and Niger have for many decades cooperated in the areas of trade as Ghana imports many agricultural products from Niger.
On Saturday, Mahama met with Malian Transition President General Assimi Goita during a closed-door meeting as part of his friendly visit to the country.
Although his visit was primarily to express gratitude to President Goita for sending Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga to attend his inauguration on January 7 in Accra, the two leaders also took the opportunity to deliberate on ways to enhance cooperation.
“…We took the opportunity to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation, trade, and economic relations between our two countries. For a very long time, our countries have traded with each other, and our people travel freely between Ghana and Mali. A significant Malian population resides in Ghana, engaging in business and integrating peacefully,” Mahama stated.
He also underscored the importance of improving trade routes, particularly the transit corridor that facilitates the movement of goods between the two nations.
“A lot of long-distance drivers, both Malian and Ghanaian, transport goods from our ports to Mali and bring goods from Mali back to our ports for export. We discussed how we can remove obstacles to ensure these drivers operate without difficulty,” Mahama noted.
Mahama further disclosed that security and the fight against terrorism in the subregion were key aspects of the discussions. He emphasized the need for stronger defense cooperation between Ghana and Mali as part of broader efforts to combat terrorism in West Africa.
Ghana and Mali engage in significant trade, particularly in agricultural and industrial goods. Ghana exports processed food products, manufactured goods, and petroleum to Mali, while Mali supplies Ghana with livestock, cotton, and shea butter. Ghana’s ports serve as a key transit point for Malian imports and exports, making trade relations between the two nations crucial to their economic stability.
The discussions also took place against the backdrop of Mali’s suspension from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), along with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, following military takeovers between 2021 and 2024. The suspension has had significant economic and diplomatic consequences, restricting trade and regional cooperation while exacerbating security vulnerabilities.
Mali continues to grapple with terrorism, as extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State carry out attacks on civilians, security forces, and government installations, particularly in the northern and central regions. The resulting instability has led to mass displacement, economic hardships, and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
This growing instability underscores the need for regional security discussions, such as the one between Ghana and Mali, aimed at fostering collaboration in intelligence sharing, border security, and military cooperation to counter extremist activities.
