Ghana and Liberia strengthen ties with Indonesia at 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum

Ghana and Liberia have moved to bolster their bilateral ties with Indonesia following high-profile meetings during the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) held in Bali last September. 

The forum, attended by Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, focused on enhancing economic cooperation between Indonesia and Africa, under the theme “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063.”

The IAF, launched in 2018, serves as a strategic platform for promoting economic partnerships between Indonesia and African nations. This year’s forum, officiated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, brought together African heads of state, senior government officials, and business leaders to explore shared opportunities and deepen cooperation across key sectors.

Ghana-Indonesia relations

During a bilateral meeting on September 2, President Akufo-Addo and President Widodo reaffirmed the long-standing 65-year relationship between Ghana and Indonesia, pledging to strengthen collaboration in health, energy, and development cooperation. 

President Widodo highlighted the ongoing partnership between Bio Farma, Indonesia’s state-owned pharmaceutical company, and Atlantic Life Sciences in Ghana, which aims to promote local vaccine production and boost vaccination programs across Africa.

The leaders also discussed the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on food and drug supervision to enhance the pharmaceutical sector. In the energy sector, President Widodo expressed Indonesia’s willingness to support Ghana in establishing a local oil refinery to address energy needs. He also proposed extending technical support through the Indonesia Aid mechanism, which offers scholarships and vocational training tailored to Ghana’s specific requirements.

President Akufo-Addo welcomed the initiatives, particularly in vaccine production, and expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s continued support.

Liberia and Indonesia: New pathways for partnership

In a separate meeting, President Widodo and Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai explored new areas of cooperation as they marked nearly 60 years of diplomatic relations. Both leaders identified palm oil, infrastructure development, and agriculture as priority sectors for collaboration.

Indonesia, a leading palm oil producer, expressed readiness to support Liberia in overcoming challenges related to the industry, including adverse campaigns from Western countries. Additionally, the two countries signed an agreement aimed at strengthening Liberia’s agricultural sector. The agreement, formalized between Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and Liberia’s Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah, focuses on leveraging Indonesia’s expertise to help Liberia achieve rice self-sufficiency.

Broader vision for Africa-Indonesia relations

The Honorary Consul for Indonesia in Ghana, His Excellency Paskal Rois, played a pivotal role in facilitating Ghana and Liberia’s participation in the forum. He emphasised the potential of Indonesia’s growing expertise in technology, health, and education to aid Africa’s development. 

“As a serial entrepreneur, I encourage African entrepreneurs to take advantage of the IAF to forge business partnerships with Indonesia,” Rois stated. He expressed optimism that the agreements reached at the forum would foster long-term growth and collaboration.

Future prospects for Africa and Indonesia

The second Indonesia-Africa Forum has laid the groundwork for deeper partnerships between Indonesia and African countries, focusing on sustainable development and mutual progress. With more African nations expected to participate in future forums, the event is poised to become a cornerstone for expanding economic and strategic relations between the two regions.

As Ghana and Liberia build on the outcomes of this year’s forum, they are set to benefit from technology transfers, capacity-building programs, and increased investment opportunities. The evolving dialogue between Africa and Indonesia promises to open new doors for cooperation, paving the way for shared prosperity and mutual growth.