President Mahama reaffirms Ghana’s non-aligned foreign policy, welcomes investors from all countries
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to a non-aligned foreign policy, declaring that the country remains open to cooperation and investment from all nations, regardless of their geopolitical affiliations.
He said Ghana’s approach to international relations was guided by friendship with all countries and hostility towards none, stressing that the country’s investment opportunities should be open to partners willing to contribute to its economic development.
“We are friends to all and enemies to none. Ghana’s policy of non-alignment has served us well, and so we welcome investors from all over the world,” President Mahama said.
He said this at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London, where he discussed Ghana’s investment prospects, its engagement with international partners and the need for fair returns from economic cooperation.
The President said Ghana was not interested in turning investment into a contest between global powers but in attracting capital, technology and expertise to support national development.
“It is not about competition. It is about investment and a fair return for everybody, including ourselves. That is the condition,” he said.
President Mahama’s comments come as African countries seek to attract greater investment into sectors capable of creating jobs, expanding local production and adding value to their natural resources.
He indicated that Ghana was prepared to work with investors from different parts of the world, provided the partnerships delivered mutual benefits for investors and the country.
The President also raised concerns about what he considered differences in the way some Western investors assess investment opportunities in Africa compared with investors from countries such as China and India.
He observed that while some Western investors continued to scrutinise institutional and investment conditions, Chinese and Indian investors had already committed resources to opportunities on the continent.
His remarks pointed to the need for international investors to assess Ghana’s opportunities on their merits and engage with the country’s development agenda.
President Mahama identified sectors such as oil and gas, mining, agriculture, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, tourism, textiles and garment manufacturing as areas with opportunities for investment and economic expansion.
He also stressed the importance of processing more of Ghana’s natural resources locally rather than exporting raw materials and importing finished products.
The President said expanding local processing would help retain more value within the economy, support industrial growth and create employment, particularly for young people.
Ghana’s approach, he maintained, was to build partnerships that combined investment opportunities with national economic priorities while ensuring that investors received fair returns.
President Mahama said the country’s non-aligned foreign policy provided a basis for engaging partners across the international community without being constrained by geopolitical rivalries.
He reiterated that Ghana welcomed investors from all countries and would continue to pursue partnerships based on mutual respect, shared interests and tangible benefits for its people.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
