President John Dramani Mahama has held bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hon. Philip Davis, on strengthening economic and diplomatic cooperation between Ghana and the Caribbean nation.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2026) in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, focused on identifying strategic areas of cooperation, particularly in trade, transportation, investment and labour exchange.
President Mahama said Ghana intends to use its one-year chairmanship of the African Union (AU) to advance stronger economic relations between Africa and the Caribbean through closer collaboration between the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
He explained that Ghana would advocate for closer integration between the two regional economic blocs to create a larger trading partnership capable of expanding economic opportunities for their respective member states.
The President called for the support of the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries in removing trade barriers between Africa and the Caribbean to facilitate the movement of goods and services.
He also proposed the establishment of direct air links between the two regions and improved port-to-port shipping arrangements to eliminate the lengthy and circuitous shipping routes that sometimes require goods destined for the Caribbean to pass through the United Kingdom.
According to President Mahama, establishing direct transportation links would reduce trade barriers, improve efficiency and strengthen commercial relations between the two regions.
The discussions also explored opportunities for labour exchange programmes, with both countries considering ways to deepen cooperation through the movement of skilled workers.
President Mahama stressed that the time had come for Africa and the Caribbean to build a more direct, strategic and mutually beneficial partnership.
The bilateral engagement forms part of President Mahama’s series of meetings with Commonwealth leaders during CHOGM 2026, as Ghana seeks to strengthen international cooperation and advance its economic diplomacy agenda.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
