His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s enduring solidarity with Jamaica, declaring that the Atlantic Ocean must serve as a bridge rather than a barrier between Africa and the Caribbean.
During bilateral talks with Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Kingston on Monday, the two leaders renewed the strong historical, political, and cultural ties that connect their nations, tracing a shared heritage from the Pan-African vision of Marcus Garvey and the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah to the global resonance of Bob Marley.
Key Outcomes of the Bilateral Meeting
- Air and Maritime Links: Fast-tracking a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to enable direct flights between Accra and Montego Bay, alongside plans for direct maritime transhipment routes.
- Business and Investment: Connecting Ghanaian and Jamaican businesses to promote cross-border investments, with Ghana offering access to the AfCFTA market and Jamaica presenting opportunities in real estate, manufacturing, and construction.
- Health Cooperation: Signing an agreement for Ghanaian health professionals to support Jamaica’s health system, with plans for exchange programmes to train essential workers and expand teacher exchanges in science, mathematics, and physics.
- Defence and Security: Strengthening joint disaster response and security capabilities under the Defence Cooperation Agreement, building on Ghana’s military support after Hurricane Melissa.
- Reparations Agenda: Ghana pledged firm support for Jamaica and CARICOM in advancing global reparations, following the UN General Assembly’s recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity.
President Mahama expressed gratitude for Jamaica’s hospitality and formally invited Prime Minister Holness to Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary celebrations next year. He also extended warm wishes to the government and people of Jamaica ahead of their 64th Independence Anniversary on August 6.
The visit underscores a renewed era of Pan-African cooperation, with Ghana and Jamaica charting a course toward economic emancipation, mutual prosperity, and global justice.
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