President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Sierra Leone following his short working visit to the West African nation.
The visit, which served both diplomatic and cultural purposes, allowed President Mahama to express gratitude to his Sierra Leonean counterpart, President Julius Maada Bio, for his presence at Mahama’s investiture on January 7, 2025.
During a press briefing, President Mahama highlighted the deep-rooted African tradition of showing gratitude, explaining that his visit was meant to thank President Bio personally.
“We’ve enjoyed it since we arrived here. Our purpose for this visit is a short working visit. But also in the spirit of African tradition to say thank you to my brother, President Julius Maada Bio, for the honor he did me and for graciously attending my investiture as president on 01/07/2025.
“As we do in African tradition, I should have come the next morning to say thank you, but better late than ever. I was busy putting the government into place, and today was the best opportunity.”
Beyond the symbolic expression of gratitude, the two leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions aimed at bolstering bilateral relations between their nations.
A significant outcome of their deliberations was the agreement to establish a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) between Ghana and Sierra Leone.
This institutional framework, President Mahama stressed, would serve as a cornerstone for long-term collaboration in key sectors.
“We have discussed a broad range of issues and one of the most important points we agreed on was to establish the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation as quickly as possible so that it becomes the institutional framework for us to build our cooperation on.”
The meeting between the two leaders also focused on critical economic and social sectors, including agriculture, food security, energy, and education.
President Mahama emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation in these areas to ensure sustainable development.
“There are many areas in which we can work together. As he [President Bio] said, we discussed issues of agriculture and food security. We discussed issues of power and electricity and how we can work together to enhance the West African Power Pool.
“We also talked about education and exchange programs, and we believe that the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation is going to be the best avenue on which we can build this cooperation together.”
With Ghana and Sierra Leone both prioritizing economic development and regional stability, the commitment to deeper collaboration in these sectors signals a new chapter in their diplomatic relations.
Addressing Regional Security and ECOWAS Relations:
As a returning key player within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Mahama engaged President Bio on pressing regional security concerns.
The two leaders discussed the growing threats of terrorism and the evolving geopolitical alliances within the Sahel region. They also exchanged insights on ECOWAS’ response to the recent formation of the Alliance of Sahelian States.
“We compared notes because he had previously visited the three countries, and I had just recently visited, so we exchanged insights and agreed to continue cooperation as members of the same sub-region.”
The two leaders further deliberated on the ongoing efforts to secure a unified African stance on United Nations Security Council reforms.
President Mahama commended President Bio for his leadership in advocating for Africa’s interests on the global stage and pledged Ghana’s unwavering support in these diplomatic efforts.
Ghana and Sierra Leone have maintained strong bilateral relations over the years, marked by mutual support during crises and collaboration in development.
President Bio’s presence at President Mahama’s inauguration reflects Sierra Leone’s continued commitment to fostering these ties and supporting democratic governance across Africa
Beyond the formal engagements, President Mahama’s visit also had a light-hearted cultural aspect. The Ghanaian leader humorously extended an invitation to Sierra Leone to participate in the ongoing West African debate over the best Jollof rice, a rivalry traditionally dominated by Ghana and Nigeria.
“At the end of our discussions, President Bio treated me to a meal of Jollof rice. And it was not just jollof rice—it was very sumptuous. So, I officially invited Sierra Leone to join Ghana and Nigeria in the Jollof competition that we’ve been having,” President Mahama quipped, eliciting laughter from the gathering. The President concluded his visit by reiterating his long-standing ties with Sierra Leone, having previously served as an election monitor in the country.
He expressed optimism that the strengthened bilateral cooperation would yield tangible benefits for both nations in the years ahead.