President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday, October 31, returned home after participating in the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow from October 28 to 29, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At the summit, President Mahama elaborated on Ghana’s cooperation vision with Russia, stating that Ghana had initiated discussions with Russia’s Rosatom on building the country’s first nuclear power plant. He also recalled that the Soviet Union provided Ghana with a research reactor as early as 1964.At the summit, President Mahama elaborated on Ghana’s cooperation vision with Russia, stating that Ghana had initiated discussions with Russia’s Rosatom on building the country’s first nuclear power plant. He also recalled that the Soviet Union provided Ghana with a research reactor as early as 1964.
Investment pitch and digital cooperation
President Mahama invited Russian enterprises to invest in Ghana’s cocoa, cashew, horticulture, mineral processing and fertiliser production, among other fields. He proposed exploring the settlement of legitimate trade using local currencies and digital payment systems to reduce dependence on traditional payment systems. He also suggested establishing a Russia-Africa Digital Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Programme to promote joint research and technology transfer between universities and enterprises of both sides.
President Mahama particularly thanked Russia for its support of Africa during the anti-colonial struggle and apartheid period. He cited his own experience as a scholarship student in the Soviet Union as evidence of friendship between the two peoples.
International security and cultural ties
Regarding international security, President Mahama called for the amicable resolution of global conflicts and expressed appreciation for Russia’s willingness to resume trilateral talks on the Ukraine issue, while also urging international cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel region.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Mahama attended a Kente cloth exhibition organised by the Russia-Ghana Parliamentary Forum, stating that cultural symbols are “historical narratives” for strengthening bilateral relations.
President Mahama received two honorary doctorates from the Russian University of Transport and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, and welcomed RUDN’s proposal to establish a Russian-African studies programme.
He also engaged the Ghanaian community in Moscow on the sidelines of the summit, during which he briefed them on recent happenings at home and responded to questions from them.
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