Mahama seeks deeper Ghana-EU trade ties as partnership talks open

President John Dramani Mahama has called for closer trade and investment ties with the European Union, saying Ghana wants to build partnerships based on shared economic interests rather than dependence on foreign aid.

Opening the 2026 Ghana-European Union Partnership Dialogue in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Mahama said Ghana's relationship with the EU should increasingly focus on investment, industrialisation and value addition as the country pursues its long-term development goals.

The annual dialogue brought together senior Ghanaian government officials and representatives of the European Union to review bilateral relations and identify new areas for cooperation.

According to Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions centred on expanding collaboration in trade, investment, health, governance and sustainable development.

The government said Ghana remained committed to its policy of promoting "trade, not aid", arguing that greater investment and industrial development would create more sustainable economic growth than continued reliance on development assistance.

Officials also reiterated plans to increase value addition to Ghana's raw materials before export, describing the strategy as key to creating jobs and strengthening the country's manufacturing sector.

Health cooperation also featured prominently, with the government highlighting its Accra Reset Agenda, which seeks to improve domestic healthcare capacity and reduce dependence on imported medical products.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Ghana also presented progress on a national project coordination system designed to improve the planning, monitoring and implementation of development projects across all 16 regions.

According to the ministry, the database is intended to strengthen oversight and improve the efficiency of projects supported by development partners.

The government said Ghana had become the first African country to conclude several strategic partnership agreements with the European Union in key sectors, reflecting what it described as the growing depth of bilateral cooperation.

The European Union is one of Ghana's largest trading partners and a major source of investment and development finance.

The annual partnership dialogue serves as a platform for both sides to assess progress on existing agreements and identify new areas of cooperation.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mahama is the first Ghanaian president to officially open the Ghana-EU Partnership Dialogue on two separate occasions, having presided over the meeting during both his first and second terms in office.

The discussions come as Ghana seeks to attract more foreign investment, expand exports and strengthen economic partnerships while implementing reforms aimed at boosting long-term growth.