President John Dramani Mahama recently returned from a one-day working visit to La Côte d’Ivoire, where he met with President Alassane Ouattara to discuss key bilateral and regional issues. The visit is part of Mahama’s efforts to consolidate Ghana’s relations with its ECOWAS neighbors.
During their meeting, the two leaders focused on regional security, particularly the Alliance of Sahel States, which comprises Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. President Ouattara commended Mahama for establishing channels of dialogue with the Sahel states, noting that this would facilitate reconciliation between the three Sahelian countries and ECOWAS.
The presidents also discussed strategies to improve cocoa production and enhance global pricing and value addition in the cocoa sector. As the world’s largest cocoa producers, accounting for approximately 80% of global production, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire recognize the importance of cooperation in this sector.
Furthermore, Mahama and Ouattara acknowledged the devastating impact of illegal mining, known as galamsey, on their respective environments. They emphasized the need for joint efforts to combat this issue and protect their shared waterways and tributaries.
This visit marks a significant step towards strengthening relations between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as promoting regional cooperation and security. As Mahama continues to engage with ECOWAS neighbors, Ghana’s position as a key player in regional affairs is reinforced.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
