Pretoria, South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa hosted his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo, for the Second Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two nations. The historic meeting, held in Pretoria on Tuesday, aimed to strengthen political, economic, and social ties between the African nations.
Ramaphosa acknowledged Ghana’s crucial role in supporting South Africa’s struggle for democracy, highlighting the longstanding fraternal bond between the countries. He quoted former President Nelson Mandela’s recognition of Ghana’s influence on the continent’s liberation movements.
The BNC session served as a platform to reaffirm the commitment to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, a blueprint for continental economic integration. Ghana’s leadership in hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) Secretariat was lauded by South Africa.
Both presidents expressed concern over the fragile state of peace and security in Africa, urging renewed efforts to silence conflicts and achieve stability. The rise of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa was also flagged as a worrying trend.
📸 His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa delivering his opening remarks on the occasion of the 2nd Session of the South Africa-Ghana Bi-National Commission (BNC) held at the OR Tambo Building in Tshwane.#GhanaInSA 🇬🇭🇿🇦#BetterAfricaBetterWorld 🌍 pic.twitter.com/o6cmbcWXfN
— #SONA2024 | Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) March 12, 2024Global issues like the Russia-Ukraine war and its impact on food and energy security in Africa were addressed. The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the unresolved situation in Western Sahara also were mentioned, with both leaders expressing solidarity with those affected.
The BNC highlighted the importance of implementing the existing 24 agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries. The recent visa exemption agreement, allowing citizens visa-free travel for 90 days annually, was hailed as a success in boosting tourism, business exchanges, and people-to-people ties.
Boosting trade and investment formed a key part of the discussions. The Business Forum held alongside the BNC aimed to facilitate this objective. Collaboration between private sectors and state-owned entities in areas like infrastructure development, maritime shipping, and pre-chemical sectors was identified as a promising avenue for cooperation.
The decline in trade between the two nations over the past four years was acknowledged, with the AfCFTA offering a chance to reverse the trend. South Africa’s recent shipment to Ghana under the AfCFTA was highlighted as a significant first step towards a transformed continental trade landscape.