Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has held high-level bilateral talks with Jamaican leaders aimed at strengthening cooperation in tourism, trade, investment, education, health, defence and cultural exchange, as both countries seek to deepen relations between Africa and the Caribbean.
According to CitiNews Room, President Mahama, who is on a four-day state visit to Jamaica, met with Prime Minister Andrew Holness at Jamaica House, where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral ties and promoting closer collaboration between Ghana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Speaking after the meeting, Prime Minister Holness said the discussions resulted in agreements covering several strategic sectors, including healthcare, tourism, education and air services, reflecting the growing partnership between the two nations. He noted that Jamaica had also signed an agreement to recruit healthcare professionals from Ghana and concluded a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation. Tourism emerged as one of the major areas of collaboration, with Holness expressing optimism that direct flights between Accra and Montego Bay could become a reality in the near future. He said improved air connectivity would boost tourism, facilitate business travel and strengthen people-to-people ties between West Africa and the Caribbean.
The Jamaican Prime Minister also highlighted recent efforts to deepen commercial engagement with Ghana, noting that a virtual ministerial business mission held last month had connected companies from both countries. According to him, the initiative is already generating opportunities in logistics, tourism, hospitality, agro-processing, information and communications technology (ICT), financial technology (fintech) and the creative industries.
President Mahama’s visit is also focused on expanding diplomatic and economic cooperation while advancing the global reparations agenda. During his stay, he is expected to participate in a Reparations Dialogue at the University of the West Indies alongside Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission. The Ghanaian leader’s itinerary also includes addressing a joint sitting of Jamaica’s Parliament, visiting the Marcus Garvey Mausoleum and the Ghanaian Village at Seville Heritage Park, as well as participating in activities marking Jamaica’s 64th Independence Anniversary.
Officials from both countries said the visit represents a new chapter in Ghana–Jamaica relations, strengthening cooperation not only between the two nations but also between Africa and the Caribbean. They expressed confidence that enhanced collaboration in tourism, trade, investment and cultural exchange would deliver long-term benefits for both economies while reinforcing their shared historical and cultural heritage.
