President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated Ghana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Zambia, describing the ties between the two countries as historic and rooted in Africa’s liberation struggle.

Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, President Mahama recalled the close relationship between Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Zambia’s founding leader, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, noting Ghana’s role as a hub for African freedom fighters.

“As we approach Ghana’s 70th anniversary of independence next year, Africa must reflect on our shared history and the divisions imposed by colonialism, which have slowed our development and prosperity,” President Mahama said. He stressed the need for stronger cooperation at both the continental and bilateral levels.

President Mahama said discussions with President Hichilema focused on deepening regional cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties to deliver tangible benefits for citizens. He also conveyed appreciation from the Ghanaian community in Zambia for the hospitality extended to them.

“Many Ghanaians here feel truly at home,” he said, adding that multinational families between the two countries reflect strong people-to-people ties, which he described as “a powerful foundation for African unity.”

President Mahama noted that Ghana and Zambia share similar economic experiences, having both faced debt challenges and undertaken restructuring and fiscal reforms. “This shared experience gives us a lot to learn from each other and many opportunities to cooperate,” he said.

The two leaders discussed cooperation in mining, agriculture, and trade, with President Mahama highlighting common challenges and the need to share best practices. While welcoming the African Continental Free Trade Area, he said continental trade must be supported by strong bilateral ties. “We must build strong bilateral relations that identify what products we can exchange and create the conditions for those exchanges to happen,” he stated.

President Mahama called for an enhanced economic partnership beyond existing political frameworks to promote deeper cooperation and real-time exchange of experiences. “We are determined to rekindle the spirit of cooperation that existed between our founding presidents so that we can win the next battle of economic transformation and prosperity for our people,” he said.

He thanked President Hichilema for the invitation and expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen Ghana–Zambia relations. He also invited the Zambian leader to visit Ghana and wished him well in the upcoming elections.