Ghana and Sierra Leone have taken a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations with the opening of a technical session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) in Accra.
The three-day meeting, which brought together senior officials from both countries, is aimed at reviving and operationalising the PJCC framework, which has remained dormant since its establishment in 2013.
Opening the session at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, the Chief Director, Dr Khadija Iddrisu, described the gathering as a critical milestone in advancing cooperation between the two nations.
She said the session was in fulfilment of directives issued by the leaders of Ghana and Sierra Leone following high-level engagements in Freetown in March 2025.
“Today, we are giving effect to those instructions by reactivating a framework that will deepen our bilateral relations through structured dialogue and practical engagement,” she stated.
Dr Iddrisu emphasised that preparatory work undertaken by both countries, including the exchange of draft Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and position papers, would ensure that the session produced tangible outcomes for consideration at the ministerial level.
She said the meeting provided an opportunity to enhance cooperation in key sectors such as trade and investment, agriculture, energy, health, defence and security, as well as political consultation.
Touching on existing collaboration, she highlighted Ghana’s support for Sierra Leone’s economic development through investments facilitated by institutions such as the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund and partnerships involving Ecobank.
“These engagements demonstrate our shared commitment to regional stability and economic growth within the West African sub-region,” she said.
She therefore urged participants to remain focused and results-oriented in their deliberations, with the goal of finalising agreements for signing at the upcoming ministerial session.
In his remark, the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Mr Alan Charles Logan, commended the government and people of Ghana for their warm hospitality.
He described the meeting as more than a routine diplomatic exercise, stressing that it represented the realisation of a shared vision by the leadership of both countries to transform longstanding ties into a modern, results-driven partnership.
“Our leaders have set a clear mandate for us to translate our historic bonds into tangible economic and developmental outcomes,” he said.
Mr Logan who is also the co-chair of the session indicated that over the coming days, technical teams from both sides would engage in detailed discussions on critical areas including energy, trade, agriculture, and defence and security.
He noted that particular attention would be given to sustainable power solutions and the development of agricultural value chains, while also strengthening institutional collaboration and political consultation.
He further underscored the responsibility of the participants to ensure that all agreements reached would deliver concrete benefits to citizens of both countries and the wider sub-region.
Mr Logan called for diligence, cooperation and a spirit of compromise among delegates to ensure a successful outcome of the session.
The technical meeting is expected to pave the way for a ministerial session, where agreements reached will be formalised to advance cooperation between the two countries.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
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