President Mahama returns from Côte d’Ivoire after bilateral talks with President Ouattara

President John Dramani Mahama has returned to Ghana after a one-day working visit to Côte d'Ivoire, where he held high-level bilateral discussions with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.

The meeting, which forms part of President Mahama’s efforts to strengthen Ghana’s relations with its ECOWAS neighbours, focused on key regional issues, including security, cocoa production, and illegal mining.

The two leaders discussed the growing security concerns in the Sahel region, particularly regarding the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a coalition formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

President Ouattara commended Mahama’s commitment to engaging with the Sahel states, noting that "it would facilitate the reconciliation of the three Sahelian countries with ECOWAS."

The discussion comes at a time when tensions between the AES bloc and ECOWAS remain unresolved, with Ghana playing a crucial role in regional peace and diplomatic efforts.

Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, as the two largest cocoa-producing nations, together account for nearly 80% of global cocoa production. During the meeting, the two presidents explored strategies to enhance global pricing and increase value addition in the cocoa sector, ensuring fairer earnings for farmers and strengthening their position in the international market.

The leaders also discussed the devastating impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on their respective countries. Given the shared waterways and tributaries between Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, both presidents acknowledged the severe environmental consequences of illegal mining and the need for a collaborative approach to tackle the menace.