Ghana, Zimbabwe call for stronger intra-African trade, cooperation
Ghana and Zimbabwe have called for stronger intra-African trade and economic cooperation in response to global economic uncertainties. Both countries stressed that regional integration and self-reliance are critical amid supply chain disruptions, external shocks, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
At the closing ceremony of the four-day technical and ministerial meetings of the Ghana-Zimbabwe Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) in Accra, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, emphasised the need for closer collaboration to promote trade, investment, and sustainable development. He noted that Ghana, as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and Zimbabwe’s strategic position in Southern Africa offer unique opportunities to expand market access and strengthen regional value chains.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, Professor Amon Murwira, called for practical measures to boost bilateral trade, including the establishment of warehouses for Ghanaian goods in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean goods in Ghana to facilitate efficient exchange. He underscored that diplomacy must deliver tangible benefits such as food, clean water, health, education, and overall prosperity, saying, “Diplomats are not just blue ties in nice suits; diplomats are food, water, and prosperity.”
Prof. Murwira reflected on the historical Pan-African ties between the two nations, noting Ghana’s support during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and contributions by Ghanaian teachers, lecturers, and diplomats that helped raise Zimbabwe’s literacy rate from 10% to 98%.
The meeting identified mining as a key area of cooperation, highlighting the abundance of mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, manganese, and iron ore, and emphasised value addition, adoption of modern technology, and environmentally sustainable mining practices.
Trade, investment, education, research, and skills development were also highlighted as critical for the partnership, with calls for enhanced private sector collaboration through joint ventures and business-to-business engagements.
The ministerial session precedes the state visit of the President of Zimbabwe to Ghana from April 1 to 10, 2026, which is expected to further consolidate relations and result in the signing of new agreements between the two countries.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
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