Ghana and Jamaica have reaffirmed their historic bonds and charted new paths for cooperation following the Ministerial Session of the Third Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC), held in Accra on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
The session was co-chaired by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith. It followed a Senior Officials Meeting convened on May 25.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Ablakwa described the PJCC as a renewal of shared heritage and Pan-African solidarity, stressing its role in translating historic ties into practical benefits across trade, investment, agriculture, education, health, defence, tourism, and creative arts. He underscored the importance of private sector linkages, youth employment, and skills development, while highlighting Ghana’s commitment to cultural diplomacy, diaspora engagement, and healthcare collaboration.
Senator Johnson Smith welcomed the reconvening of the PJCC after two decades, noting that Ghana and Jamaica’s bonds predate formal diplomatic relations established in 1958. She expressed gratitude for Ghana’s support during Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa and announced new initiatives, including scholarships for Ghanaian athletes and coaches, and a forthcoming Jamaican trade mission to Ghana. She reaffirmed Jamaica’s readiness to expand cooperation in education, air services, healthcare, defence, and arts and culture.
The session concluded with the signing of key agreements:
- Agreed Minutes
- Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation
- Exchange of Notes amending Arts and Culture Agreement
- Bilateral Agreement on Recruitment of Ghanaian Health Professionals
- Joint Communique
Both sides pledged sustained engagement and effective implementation of the agreements, marking a new era of strengthened Ghana–Jamaica relations.
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