Ghana, Egypt explore fresh avenues in defence, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure

President John Dramani Mahama and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Egypt, with both countries seeking to deepen cooperation in key areas including trade, defence, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure.

The two leaders made the commitment during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit, held alongside the maiden Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt.

President Mahama and President el-Sisi reflected on the historic relationship between the two countries, recalling the pan-African vision shared by Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

They agreed that the historic foundation between Ghana and Egypt remains important as both countries work together to address contemporary development and regional challenges. President Mahama also expressed Ghana’s appreciation to Egypt for supporting the country’s resolution on reparations at the United Nations, urging Cairo to maintain its support as discussions on the issue continue.

The two leaders further discussed measures to strengthen bilateral trade and political consultations, with particular attention to the pharmaceutical sector. President Mahama called for steps to facilitate the registration of Egyptian pharmaceutical products in Ghana, saying this could improve access to medicines while creating opportunities for increased investment and commercial cooperation between the two countries.

Defence and regional security also featured prominently in the discussions. President Mahama expressed Ghana’s interest in expanding security cooperation with Egypt, particularly in intelligence sharing, capacity building and counter-terrorism. He cited Egypt’s advanced defence industry as a valuable model and expressed Ghana’s desire to learn from the country’s experience.

The discussions also touched on support for the Sahel-Gulf of Guinea Accord and the development of social housing as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest. On infrastructure and urban development, President Mahama said Ghana is interested in drawing on Egypt’s technical experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects.

He specifically pointed to Egypt’s New Administrative Capital as an area from which Ghana could gain valuable insights as the country advances plans for the development of a new capital city. The meeting forms part of efforts by Ghana and Egypt to build on their historic ties while creating new avenues for economic development, security cooperation and infrastructure growth.