Ghana and Zambia have elevated their diplomatic and economic relations to a new height following President John Dramani Mahama’s recent state visit to Lusaka, culminating in the signing of a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement aimed at deepening Pan-African cooperation and shared prosperity.
The visit, which was described by officials as historic, produced a wide range of mutually beneficial agreements spanning mobility, trade, fintech, natural resources, defence, aviation, and cultural exchange between the two African nations.
Providing details of the outcomes, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the partnership reflects a bold commitment to African integration anchored on practical results rather than rhetoric.
“One of the most exciting outcomes of President Mahama’s visit is a Pan-African visa-free travel agreement which allows nationals of both Ghana and Zambia to spend up to 30 days in each other’s countries,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
He explained that the visa-free arrangement is expected to boost tourism, business travel, people-to-people exchanges and cultural interaction, while removing longstanding barriers that hinder intra-African movement.
Another major highlight of the visit was the signing of fintech contracts involving Ghanaian and Zambian companies valued at over 50 million dollars in the short term.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, these fintech agreements are projected to “create some 8,000 jobs” across both countries, particularly for young people working in digital finance, payments infrastructure and technology innovation.
The two countries also reached agreements in the natural resources sector, focusing on value addition and environmental sustainability.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that the deal seeks to ensure that “our natural resources are processed locally, with environmentally friendly practices that protect our ecosystems while increasing national revenue.”
In the area of security, Ghana and Zambia signed a defence cooperation agreement designed to expand training, operational collaboration and strategic exchange between the armed forces of both nations.
“This defence cooperation agreement will create additional frontiers for the armed forces of Ghana and Zambia and strengthen our collective security architecture,” the Minister said.
As part of institutional capacity building, Ghana has agreed to offer technical assistance to Zambia in the establishment of a Minerals Commission and a Goldbod-type regulatory body.
The Minister described this as an opportunity for Ghana to share lessons from its regulatory experience in the mining and gold trading sectors.
In return, Zambia will provide Ghana with technical support in solar energy regulation and scientifically improved seedling production.
“This partnership allows us to learn from Zambia’s progress in solar energy regulation and modern agricultural seedling development,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
Trade facilitation also featured prominently, with both countries agreeing to establish new trade corridors that will position Ghana and Zambia as strategic hubs for West and Southern Africa respectively.
“These corridors will allow our nations to serve as gateways to the larger Western African and Southern African markets,” the Foreign Affairs Minister explained.
The partnership further includes an agreement to standardize certification of products from both countries, a move expected to reduce trade barriers and ease cross-border commerce.
In aviation, a Bilateral Air Services Agreement was signed to enhance cooperation between the two countries and pave the way for direct flights.
Mr. Ablakwa said the agreement would “significantly improve connectivity, tourism and business travel between Accra and Lusaka.”
Cultural diplomacy formed a key component of the visit, with Ghana set to host a Fugu and Kente Trade Exhibition in Zambia next month.
The Minister revealed that the decision followed “the tremendous and phenomenal interest of Zambians in Ghanaian traditional outfits,” adding that President Hakainde Hichilema had “publicly expressed his desire to place orders.”
Mr. Ablakwa placed the growing partnership within a strong historical context, referencing the legacy of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Zambia’s founding leader, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
“From the special Nkrumah-Kaunda friendship, Ghana-Zambia relations keep growing stronger, exciting and more formidable,” he said.
Observers say the agreements signal a renewed push by President Mahama’s administration to prioritise Pan-Africanism through concrete economic and diplomatic initiatives.
With the Comprehensive Partnership now in place, both Ghana and Zambia are expected to begin immediate implementation of the signed agreements, marking a new chapter in South-South cooperation on the African continent.
