President John Mahama on Tuesday reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to an expanded and forward-looking partnership with the European Union (EU).
He described the collaboration as a cornerstone for Ghana’s development and regional influence.
Addressing the 2025 Ghana-EU Partnership Dialogue held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra, President Mahama lauded the EU as a “development ally and co-architect of a new global order,” grounded in mutual respect, sustainability, and strategic alignment.
This year’s Dialogue focused on unlocking investments, promoting the green transition, enhancing regional security, and creating a fairer global governance system.
The 2025 Ghana-EU Partnership Dialogue brought together EU ambassadors, government officials, private sector leaders, and civil society actors for a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and the shaping of a shared agenda.
President Mahama said, “Our partnership is not merely symbolic; it is a living instrument that anchors our shared pursuit of prosperity, stability, and sustainable development.
“The EU has proven to be a reliable partner in our journey, and this dialogue marks yet another opportunity to consolidate our gains and explore new areas of mutual benefit,” he said.
He noted that Ghana’s economic outlook was steadily rebounding due to prudent fiscal measures, with inflation stabilising and the currency showing resilience.
This progress, he said, was recently affirmed by an upgrade of Ghana’s credit rating.
President Mahama emphasised the crucial role of the private sector in national development and called on European investors to take advantage of Ghana’s reformed business environment and upcoming revisions to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act.
“Ghana is positioning itself as a regional hub for sustainable agribusiness, manufacturing, and digital innovation,” he said.
The President added, “We welcome European expertise and investment as we chart a new course in industrial transformation.”
He also highlighted Ghana’s commitment to energy transition and green growth, with an ambitious target to reach net-zero emissions by 2060.
He pointed to initiatives such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the country’s strategic mineral resources as key drivers of future collaboration with the EU in renewable energy and electric vehicle assembly.
In the area of migration and labour mobility, President Mahama cited the ATUU project, launched with EU support in March 2025, as a model for safe and humane migration.
He also announced Ghana’s readiness to establish structured labour mobility agreements with EU countries facing skilled labour shortages.
On regional peace and security, the President called for deeper EU-Ghana defence cooperation to combat growing threats of violent extremism in the West Africa subregion.
“Ghana remains a beacon of peace, but the urgency of regional instability compels us to fortify our national security and expand our role in collective defence frameworks,” the President said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who hosted the event, hailed President Mahama’s presence as “a strong signal of the high-level priority Ghana places on EU relations.”
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the shared pillars guiding the dialogue – socio-economic development, peace and security, international governance, and green sustainability.
“Our deliberations today are framed by President Mahama’s vision for a modern, inclusive, and economically empowered Ghana,” Mr Ablakwa said.
“The Mahama Administration’s openness and diplomatic engagement, particularly with the EU, reflects the urgency with which we are pursuing strategic partnerships to meet the expectations of our people,” the Foreign Minister said.
He noted that Ghana had already resolved key outstanding issues with EU member states, including land title challenges with the Lands Commission, and expressed appreciation for EU support in security logistics and intelligence sharing.
Mr Irchad Razaaly, EU Ambassador to Ghana, commended Ghana’s democratic resilience and growing regional leadership.
“The Ghana-EU partnership is stronger than ever. We are proud to stand by Ghana not only in infrastructure and green growth, but also in shaping the regional and global agenda,” he said.
The Ambassador referenced landmark achievements such as the Kaleo Solar Plant and the €62 million retrofitting of the Kpong Dam as evidence of the EU’s long-term commitment.
He stressed that true partnership must be defined by shared goals, not dependency.
“It is not about charity or buying reforms,” he said, adding that “It is about mutual respect, co-investment, and strategic trust.”
Ambassador Razaaly pledged continued EU support for Ghana’s economic transformation, vaccine production capacity, and governance reforms, including the Affirmative Action Act.