President John Dramani Mahama has returned to Ghana following a one-day working visit to La Côte d’Ivoire, where he held high-level bilateral discussions with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.
The meeting, aimed at strengthening Ghana’s ties with its ECOWAS neighbors, focused on key regional issues, including security in the Sahel, cocoa production, and the fight against illegal mining.
President Ouattara praised President Mahama for his diplomatic efforts in engaging the Alliance of Sahel States, emphasizing that such dialogue would help reintegrate Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into ECOWAS. The two leaders also underscored their nations’ pivotal role in the global cocoa market, accounting for approximately 80% of worldwide production, and explored strategies to enhance pricing and promote value addition.
Another critical issue discussed was the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining (galamsey), which has severely impacted water bodies shared by both countries. The leaders acknowledged the urgent need for stronger cross-border collaboration to tackle the menace and protect vital water resources.
President Mahama’s visit marks another step in Ghana’s commitment to regional cooperation and economic growth, reinforcing diplomatic relations between the two West African nations.
