Ghana and Sierra Leone have reactivated their Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC), signalling renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing economic and technical collaboration between the two West African states.
The move follows directives from President John Dramani Mahama and President Julius Maada Bio after high-level engagements in Freetown in March 2025 and Accra in January 2026.
It was aimed at transforming longstanding diplomatic ties into a results-driven partnership.
The PJCC serves as a formal bilateral mechanism designed to enhance cooperation between Ghana and Sierra Leone across multiple sectors, promoting trade, investment, and socio-economic development.
The reactivation of the Commission comes at a time when African countries are increasingly prioritising regional integration and economic collaboration under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The strengthening of bilateral mechanisms like the PJCC is critical to unlocking trade potential, enhancing cross-border investments, and fostering collective responses to shared challenges, including security and climate change.
A technical session is expected to culminate in a ministerial meeting where key agreements will be formalised, setting the stage for a new phase of cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign, opening the technical session in Accra, described the meeting as a significant step towards operationalising the Commission, which had remained dormant since its establishment in 2013.
She said the reactivation demonstrated the shared resolve of both countries to deepen cooperation through structured dialogue and practical engagement.
“The instruction of our leaders was clear. The Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation should and must be activated. Today we are giving effect to those instructions,” she stated.
Ambassador Iddrisu noted that preparatory work undertaken by both countries, including the exchange of draft memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and position papers, would ensure that the technical deliberations produced tangible outcomes for consideration at the ministerial level.
She emphasised that Ghana and Sierra Leone shared long-standing ties rooted in mutual support, which had evolved into collaboration in key sectors such as trade, defence, security, and capacity building.
The Chief Director highlighted existing partnerships, including Ghanaian investments in Sierra Leone through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund and financial support by Ecobank Ghana in collaboration with Ecobank Sierra Leone for private sector development.
“These engagements demonstrate our shared commitment to regional stability and development within the West African sub-region,” she added.
Ambassador Iddrisu said the technical session would focus on priority areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, energy, health, defence and security, as well as political consultations.
She urged participants to ensure that discussions remained practical and aligned with the shared development objectives of both countries, with the aim of finalising MoUs for signing during the ministerial session.
Mr. Alan C.E. Logan, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone and Co-Chairperson of the Senior Officials Meeting, described the gathering as a direct fulfilment of the vision of the two Heads of State.
He commended the Government and people of Ghana for the warm hospitality extended to the Sierra Leonean delegation.
“Our gathering here today is not merely a routine diplomatic exercise. It is the direct fulfilment of a shared vision established by our Heads of State,” he said.
Mr. Logan acknowledged Ghana’s historical contributions to Sierra Leone, particularly during the civil war through the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), noting that such solidarity had cemented strong bilateral ties.
He said discussions over the three-day session would focus on critical sectors, including energy, trade, agriculture, and security, with the aim of delivering sustainable development outcomes.
On energy, he indicated that both countries would explore solutions to ensure reliable power supply for their growing economies.
In agriculture, he said Sierra Leone was keen to collaborate with Ghana to strengthen its cocoa sector through knowledge transfer and value chain development, leveraging Ghana’s expertise as a leading cocoa producer.
He added that both countries would also deepen cooperation in defence and security to address emerging threats in the region, while strengthening diplomatic coordination on issues of mutual interest.
Mr. Logan stressed the importance of finalising draft agreements that would translate into concrete benefits for citizens of both countries and the wider African continent.
“Let us work with diligence and a spirit of compromise, ensuring that every agreement we draft and eventually sign translates into tangible benefits,” he said.
GNA
