Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama held talks on March 5 in Abidjan, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation. The leaders discussed various issues of mutual interest, including defense, security, the cocoa economy, mining, energy, and key ECOWAS initiatives such as the Abidjan-Lagos corridor and the proposed ECO currency.
Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the 2017 Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Strategic Partnership Agreement.
During the meeting, Mahama highlighted the close relationship between Ivorians and Ghanaians, calling for continued collaboration between the two nations to strengthen their roles within the African Continental Free Trade Area. The presidents also underlined the importance of security cooperation to address regional challenges such as terrorism, climate change, maritime piracy, and trafficking. Their discussions underscored the need for peace and stability in West Africa.
Addressing the ongoing political situation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, both leaders expressed concern over the countries’ withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024. Ouattara expressed confidence in Mahama’s ability to persuade these nations to rejoin the regional bloc, stressing that “we are stronger as 15 nations than as three.” Mahama, in turn, pledged to approach the matter diplomatically, stressing the importance of regional economic interdependence and the challenges facing citizens of the Sahel states due to border restrictions.