Ghana and Gabon have signed 12 memoranda of understanding for cooperation in areas spanning health, mining and mineral value addition, defense and security among others.
The agreements were signed on July 28 during a state visit by the Gabonese President, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
During the visit, President Mahama and his Gabonese counterpart pledged their commitment to democratic governance, regional peace and African integration.
President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema arrived in Accra accompanied by senior Gabonese officials.
The visit is expected to deepen the long-standing relations between Ghana and Gabon and strengthen cooperation across key sectors of mutual interest.
After inspecting the Guard of Honor, President Nguema proceeded to the Jubilee House for the bilateral engagement. President Mahama and his Gabonese counterpart held a tête-à-tête meeting before leading official bilateral talks at the Jubilee House.
The two leaders underscored the need for African communities to collectively shun and decisively address xenophobic attacks and all forms of discrimination that threaten the cohesion and shared progress of the continent.
“To facilitate investment flows and create an enabling environment for businesses in both countries to collaborate in the areas of manufacturing, agribusiness, transport and logistics, infrastructure development, financial services and value addition,” President Mahama said.
On his part, President Nguema stated that, “After the recent measures that were taken with respect to decisions that the French government took regarding scholarships for foreign students, and I think that it will be proper for us to look into this direction to see how universities here in Ghana can welcome our students.
We cannot compromise the future of our youth and also the construction of our universities in Gabon because the scholarships fees in France have increased and we have decided to redirect our youth to other African countries.
It is the same training that is available in our fellow African countries and I think that we can have discussions in this regard.”
The discussions reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation beyond existing engagement.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Gabonese Foreign Minister Marie-Edith Dombeneni signed on behalf of their respective countries.
The visiting head of state later planted a symbolic tree at the lawns of the Jubilee House.
Earlier, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Mausoleum where he paid a glowing tribute to Ghana’s first head of state Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The Gabonese head of state is in Ghana for a three-day state visit at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama.
