President John Dramani Mahama has appealed for the cessation of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, urging all parties to return to dialogue to restore peace in the volatile region.
The appeal was made during a bilateral meeting with his Tanzanian counterpart, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, at the State House in Arusha, Tanzania. President Mahama warned that the recent attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, followed by Iran’s counterattacks on Gulf countries, were creating significant geopolitical shocks.
“We know that these shocks will come. But when they come, we must prepare ourselves to make sure that our people are protected,” President Mahama stated. “As it is, that region is the epicenter of global oil supplies. When crude prices rise above a certain level, it negatively impacts our countries. We therefore call for the cessation of the conflict and the return to dialogue so that peace can return to the region.”
President Mahama was in Tanzania as the guest of honour at the opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and the 20th Anniversary of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Strengthening Ghana-Tanzania ties
During the bilateral talks, the two leaders acknowledged the historic bond between their founding presidents, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. They also identified the absence of a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) and agreed to fast-track its establishment. Plans for formal state visits to sign several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were also discussed.
Economic transformation and resource sovereignty
President Mahama shared Ghana’s successes in economic reform, highlighting that small-scale gold exports had increased from 63 tons to 104 tons within nine months, injecting $10 billion into the national economy. He stressed the importance of African nations exercising sovereignty over their natural resources.
On cocoa financing, he announced that Ghana plans to break from external funding and raise local resources to purchase at least 400,000 metric tons of cocoa for domestic processing starting next season.
Supporting transparent governance
President Mahama praised President Hassan for establishing an independent Commission of Inquiry and planning a Reconciliation Commission following Tanzania’s post-election situation, noting that transparency strengthens multiparty democracy and helps nations learn from experiences.
Advancing reparations for Africa
As the African Union Champion on Reparations, President Mahama confirmed that a resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity will be tabled at the UN General Assembly on March 25. He acknowledged Tanzania’s firm support for the reparations cause.
The visit underscores Ghana’s commitment to peace, economic transformation, and continental solidarity while reinforcing bilateral ties between Ghana and Tanzania.
