His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, concluded a one-day official visit to Sierra Leone on March 18, 2025. The visit took place at Lungi International Airport and involved discussions with Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio. Both leaders focused on reviewing the bilateral relationship between their countries and addressing regional and international issues of mutual interest.
President Bio expressed his pleasure in hosting President Mahama, whom he described as both a colleague and a friend. He noted that this was President Mahama’s first visit to Sierra Leone since taking office on January 7, 2025. During their meeting, the two presidents discussed various topics within the framework of their nations’ fraternal relations.
The discussions highlighted opportunities for development and democratic aspirations through regional cooperation. Key areas of potential collaboration include trade and investment, agriculture and food security, tourism, public health, education, fisheries, defense and security, and institutional collaboration.
“To achieve these objectives, we agreed to revitalise the General Cooperation Agreement that was signed in 2018 between Ghana and Sierra Leone for the establishment of a permanent Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC). I have also proposed that the inaugural meeting of the JCC be held in Accra at a date to be agreed upon by our foreign ministers,” President Bio reiterated.
Regional security was another significant topic during the discussions. Both leaders addressed critical issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, conflict in the Sahel region, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. They reaffirmed their commitment to coordinate efforts against these challenges.
President Mahama expressed gratitude for the warm reception from President Bio and Sierra Leone’s people. He emphasized the importance of revitalizing the Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC) for its potential impact on both countries and sub-regional matters. Additionally, he reiterated his commitment to strengthening collaboration with Sierra Leone on education, health issues, sub-regional concerns, United Nations Security Council reform efforts, and deepening bilateral ties.
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