Ghana is poised to significantly expand its partnership with Ukraine, expressing keen interest in Ukrainian technologies, particularly in drone production.
This strategic development follows a productive conversation between Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, July 11.
President Zelenskyy personally announced the deepening ties via an X post, revealing the wide-ranging discussions. “I had a good conversation with President of Ghana, @JDMahama. We share a mutual interest in developing bilateral cooperation,” President Zelenskyy stated.
I had a good conversation with President of Ghana, @JDMahama.
We share a mutual interest in developing bilateral cooperation. We discussed areas where we can already deepen our partnership, first and foremost in the agro-industrial sector and the creation of a food logistics hub… pic.twitter.com/HYapyIiB1q
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 11, 2025
The talks primarily focused on bolstering Ghana’s agro-industrial sector and establishing a pivotal food logistics hub.
This aligns with Ghana’s national agenda to enhance food security, reduce post-harvest losses, and position itself as a key agricultural processing and distribution centre for West Africa.
Ghana, a significant producer of staples like maize, cassava, and cocoa, faces challenges with limited access to modern farming techniques, climate change impacts, and inadequate infrastructure, which a robust logistics hub could help mitigate.
Discussions around a food logistics hub were also previously held between former President Nana Akufo-Addo and President Zelenskyy during the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2024, signalling a sustained interest from Ghana.
However, the most striking aspect of the recent conversation was Ghana’s pronounced interest in Ukraine’s advanced technological capabilities.
“Ghana is also interested in our technologies, the production of various types of drones, and the experience Ukraine has gained during this war,” President Zelenskyy disclosed.
Ukraine has emerged as a global leader in drone innovation and deployment, rapidly developing a formidable indigenous drone industry in response to the full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.
Its “Army of Drones” programme, launched in 2022, has seen the country produce millions of cost-effective yet highly effective unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for reconnaissance, strikes, and electronic warfare, some capable of deep-strike missions over 1,000 kilometres.
This combat-tested expertise is highly attractive to nations seeking to modernise their defence and surveillance capabilities.
Crucially, President Zelenskyy revealed Ghana’s readiness to invest directly in Ukrainian production.
“Ghana is ready to finance our production, and we are ready to help our partners secure their borders,” he affirmed.
This willingness to finance underscores Ghana’s urgent need to enhance its border security, particularly given growing regional instability, including threats from extremist groups in the Sahel region and issues of illicit cross-border activities.
Ghana’s porous borders have long posed a challenge, with concerns about human trafficking, irregular migration, and cross-border crime requiring enhanced surveillance and interdiction capabilities.
To cement these promising areas of cooperation, both leaders have agreed to hold a ministerial-level meeting in the near future, with a Ukrainian delegation set to visit Ghana.
This upcoming visit is expected to translate the initial discussions into concrete agreements and implementation timelines.
Ghana and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on June 17, 1992, and despite the geographical distance, ties have been strengthening, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ghana has consistently maintained a principled stance, condemning the aggression and affirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a position that contrasts with the neutrality adopted by some other African nations.
Ukraine officially opened its embassy in Accra in December 2023, signifying its commitment to fostering stronger ties across the African continent.
Furthermore, in June 2025, officials from both countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in cybersecurity, digitalisation, and information technologies.
In a concluding gesture of goodwill and a testament to the burgeoning relationship, President Zelenskyy extended an invitation to President Mahama to visit Ukraine.
Such a high-profile visit would further underscore the strategic importance both nations place on this burgeoning partnership, potentially opening doors for even broader collaboration in the future.
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