President John Dramani Mahama met with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka to strengthen bilateral relations and explore collaboration in key sectors such as mining and agriculture.
He highlighted the historic ties between Ghana and Zambia, recalling the friendship between Presidents Kwame Nkrumah and Kenneth Kaunda during the African liberation struggle.
“As Ghana celebrates 70 years of independence next year, we can better appreciate the call for African unity made by our founding fathers,” President Mahama said.
“The divisions created by colonialism have slowed our development, and today, we must work even closer together to accelerate progress.”
The two leaders discussed shared economic challenges, including debt restructuring and fiscal reforms.
President Mahama noted, “Zambia and Ghana are on the same trajectory in dealing with economic challenges. We can learn a lot from each other’s experiences.”
Mining and agriculture were also central to the talks. President Mahama emphasized the importance of cooperation in these sectors, saying, “We both face challenges with artisanal and small-scale mining, and it’s crucial we share our experiences to find solutions. Similarly, enhancing agricultural production and trade between our countries is essential.” He stated
President Mahama further stressed the need for deeper economic collaboration.
“We must move beyond political dialogue to focus on economic consolidation. Strengthening bilateral relations is the key to creating a more prosperous future.”
On his part, Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema stressed the importance of the Ghana-Zambia relationship.
“This partnership dates back to the era of our founding fathers, President Nkrumah and President Kaunda. We intend and desire to deepen our cooperation and use that as a building block towards the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”he noted.
President Hichilema also expressed support for Ghana’s role in the AfCFTA, stating, “We are pleased that Ghana is hosting the Secretariat of the AfCFTA, and Zambia will do everything possible to make sure Ghana succeeds in this important endeavor.”
The leaders also celebrated the strong connections between the Ghanaian and Zambian communities.
Source: myxyzonline.com
