President John Dramani Mahama has held high-level bilateral talks with Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, at the State House in Arusha.
The discussions were conducted in the spirit of Pan-African solidarity and focused on strengthening Ghana–Tanzania relations, deepening continental cooperation, and addressing pressing regional and global developments.
On the evolving situation in the Middle East, President Mahama conveyed deep concern over escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as counter-attacks affecting Gulf states. He underscored that the region remains central to global energy supplies and cautioned that sustained instability would have far-reaching economic implications, particularly for African economies vulnerable to fluctuations in crude oil prices.
In reaffirming the longstanding ties between Ghana and Tanzania, both leaders paid tribute to the historic partnership between Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere. They agreed on the imperative of revitalising structured bilateral engagement, including expediting the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC). Discussions are advancing toward a prospective state visit to formalise several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding.
On economic transformation and resource governance, President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s recent reforms in the gold sector, noting a significant increase in small-scale gold exports from 63 to 104 metric tonnes within nine months, contributing approximately US$10 billion to the national economy.
He emphasised the importance of resource sovereignty and value addition, announcing Ghana’s decision to transition from external cocoa financing arrangements and mobilise domestic resources to procure no fewer than 400,000 metric tonnes of cocoa annually for local processing.
President Mahama is in Arusha as Special Guest of Honour for the 20th Anniversary and Opening of the 2026 Legal Year of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He described the court as a distinguished continental institution and encouraged member states that have yet to ratify its protocol to do so, in furtherance of justice and human rights across Africa.
On Tanzania’s post-election processes, President Mahama commended President Hassan’s establishment of an independent commission of inquiry and plans for a reconciliation commission, observing that such measures reflect democratic maturity, promote national cohesion, and strengthen multiparty governance.
In his capacity as African Union Champion on Reparations, President Mahama further confirmed that a resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity will be tabled before the United Nations General Assembly on 25 March. He expressed appreciation for Tanzania’s principled support for the reparations agenda
