The Malian Prime Minister, Major General Abdoulaye Maiga, began a two-day official visit to Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
The Malian Prime Minister’s mission to Accra is part of a diplomatic mission marked by close but also strategic relations between Mali and Ghana, two key nations in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
This visit follows the inability of the President of the Transition, General Assimi Goita, to attend the inauguration of his Ghanaian counterpart, John Dramani Mahama, on January 7.
A few days before the inauguration ceremony in Accra, a Ghanaian delegation led by Alfred Mahama, brother of the new President, was dispatched to Bamako to deliver an official invitation to the Malian
President.
However, due to busy schedules and national imperatives, President Goita was unable to make the trip. As a diplomatic response, he mandated his Prime Minister to personally convey a message of friendship and cooperation to his Ghanaian counterpart.
Upon his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, General Maïga was welcomed by Honorable Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, representative of the Presidency of the Republic of Ghana, as well as by the Ambassador of Mali to Ghana, Oumar Konate.
A strong delegation composed of the Malian community in Ghana, as well as Burkinabe and Nigerien nationals residing in the country, also testified to the importance of this visit with a warm and highly symbolic welcome.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Diop, and the diplomatic advisor to the President of the Transition, Ms. Fatou Binta Diop. This team reflects Mali’s determination to consolidate its bilateral relations with Ghana in an inclusive and collaborative framework despite the tensions within the
West African bloc.
On Thursday, January 16, the Prime Minister was billed to meet with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama at the Presidential Palace. He would also meet with the Malian community established in Ghana.
These exchanges aim to reaffirm the historical and cultural ties between the two nations, while exploring strategic partnerships in the areas of security, economy and development.
This visit also takes place in a context where security challenges in the Sahel region require increased cooperation between AES member countries. Mali and Ghana, although having different geographical realities, share a common vision of stability and development in West Africa.
Since his appointment in November 2024, Prime Minister Maiga has distinguished himself with a series of diplomatic trips and meetings.
This visit to Ghana is part of this dynamic and reflects Mali’s commitment to play an active role on the regional and international scene.
MD/Sf/ac/fss/gik/APA