President John Dramani Mahama has held high-level bilateral talks with Jamaican government officials as part of his four-day official state visit to Jamaica.
The discussions centred on strengthening trade, investment, cultural exchange and broader South-South cooperation between the two countries.
The President arrived in the Jamaican capital, Kingston, last Sunday night and was received with official honours at the Norman Manley International Airport by a high-level Jamaican delegation led by the Chief of State Protocol at the Office of the Prime Minister, Sandra Grant Griffiths, and Ghana’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Kofi Attor.
The official welcome delegation also included Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, and Jamaica's Non-Resident High Commissioner to Ghana, Lincoln Downer.
President Mahama was accompanied by a high-powered Ghanaian delegation, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi; and the Special Aide and Presidential Advisor to the President, Joyce Bawa Mogtari.
Last Monday, President Mahama and his delegation were formally received at King’s House on Hope Road in Kingston by the Governor-General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, and his wife, Lady Allen.
The visit began with a ceremonial welcome, during which President Mahama inspected a Guard of Honour before proceeding to meet the Governor-General and Lady Allen in the Drawing Room of King’s House.
The landmark visit, which ends today, is expected to further consolidate the long-standing diplomatic, cultural and economic relationship between Ghana and Jamaica while expanding cooperation between Ghana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
President Mahama also travelled to the Office of the Prime Minister, where he was warmly welcomed by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness.
The two heads of government held a private meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest and explore new avenues for cooperation.
It was followed by formal bilateral talks involving the Ghanaian and Jamaican sides.
The discussions focused on expanding economic partnerships, increasing trade and investment opportunities, enhancing cultural and educational exchanges, and strengthening collaboration on regional and international issues of shared concern.
Joint media briefing
At a joint media briefing at the Executive Building, Prime Minister Holness and President Mahama outlined the outcomes of their discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the long-standing historical and diplomatic ties between Ghana and Jamaica.
President Mahama traced the historical bonds between Ghana and Jamaica, recalling the profound influence of Marcus Garvey on Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He stated that many of the programmes Nkrumah implemented after independence were inspired by Garvey’s teachings, including the concept of the Black Star of Africa and the Black Star Shipping Line.
“They worked in solidarity in those days, including Prime Minister Michael Manley, in respect of the non-aligned movements.
Those leaders came together at a time of the Cold War to work together to protect our countries from undue influence by the various ideological blocs,” President Mahama said.
“If this solidarity was built on liberation, we have new opportunities for building that solidarity today.
This time it is not about liberation from colonial domination.
This time it is economic emancipation of our people.
We have no option but to work together, bring our comparative advantages together to be able to create the prosperity that our people deserve,” he added.
Trade, investment opportunities
President Mahama highlighted the potential for cross-investments between the two countries.
“You are able to produce or manufacture in one country and export to the other 54 countries,” he said.
He also noted that the bilateral air services agreement between Ghana and Jamaica was currently before Parliament and would be fast-tracked to enable direct flights from Accra to Montego Bay.
Both leaders also discussed a defence cooperation agreement that would allow for exchanges between their militaries and enable timely disaster response.
President Mahama commended Jamaica for its support of Ghana’s leadership as Champion of the African Union on Reparations.
He stated that 123 nations supported a historic resolution at the General Assembly declaring that the transatlantic slave trade and chattel enslavement of Africans was a grievous crime against humanity.
“We held the Next Steps Conference in Accra and had three agreements on the high-level panel, the experts panel and the legal panel.
I believe that it ties into what Jamaica is trying to do with the petition to the Royal House of England. I want to express Ghana’s support for that petition,” President Mahama said.
Visit to Bob Marley Museum
To conclude the day’s activities, President Mahama and his entourage visited the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston.
Housed in the legendary musician's former residence and the headquarters of his iconic record label, Tuff Gong, the museum preserves the life and legacy of Bob Marley through an extensive collection of artefacts, personal memorabilia, writings and photographs.
“His song on Zimbabwe’s independence continues to be very popular. Africans are liberating Zimbabwe.
It led not only to the liberation of Zimbabwe; after Zimbabwe, South Africa also joined and got independent.
But even his lyrics about freeing ourselves from mental slavery continue to inspire us,” President Mahama said.
