Foreign relations of Ghana

Ghana
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Foreign relations of Ghana is controlled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana. Ghana is active in the United Nations and many of its specialised agencies, the World Trade Organization, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States. Generally, it follows the consensus of the Non-aligned Movement and the OAU on economic and political issues not directly affecting its own interests. Ghana has been extremely active in international peacekeeping activities under UN auspices in Lebanon, Afghanistan, Rwanda, and the Balkans, in addition to an eight-year sub-regional initiative with its ECOWAS partners to develop and then enforce a cease-fire in Liberia. Ghana is also a member of the International Criminal Court.

Guiding principles and objectives

Ghana's foreign policy since independence has been characterised by a commitment to the principles and ideals of non-alignment and Pan-Africanism as first enunciated by Kwame Nkrumah in the early 1960s. For Nkrumah, non-alignment meant complete independence from the policies and alliances of both East and West and support for a worldwide union of so-called non-aligned nations as a counter to both East and West power blocs. Pan-Africanism, by contrast, was a specifically African policy that envisioned the independence of Africa from Western colonialism and the eventual economic and political unity of the African continent.^[1]

The PNDC, like most of its predecessors, made serious and consistent attempts at the practical application of these ideals and principles, and its successor, the NDC government, promises to follow in the PNDC's footsteps. Under the NDC, Ghana remains committed to the principle of non-alignment in world politics. Ghana is also opposed to interference in the internal affairs of both small and large countries. This is a departure from Nkrumah's foreign policy approach; Nkrumah was frequently accused of subverting African regimes, such as Togo and Ivory Coast, which he considered ideologically conservative. The NDC government, like the PNDC before it, believes in the principle of self-determination, including the right to political independence and the right of people to pursue their economic and social development free from external interference. Another feature of NDC rule carried over from the PNDC era is faithfulness to what a leading scholar of Africa has called "one of the most successful neoclassical economic reform efforts supported by the IMF and the World Bank."^[1]

The broad objectives of Ghana's foreign policy thus include maintaining friendly relations and cooperation with all countries that desire such cooperation, irrespective of ideological considerations, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Africa and its liberation and unity are naturally the cornerstones of Ghana's foreign policy. As a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), NDC policy is to adhere faithfully to the OAU Charter.^[1]

Another important principle of Ghana's foreign policy involves the closest possible cooperation with neighbouring countries with which the people of Ghana share cultural history, ties of blood, and economics. The results have included various bilateral trade and economic agreements and permanent joint commissions involving Ghana and its immediate neighbours, sometimes in the face of latent ideological and political differences and mutual suspicion, as well as numerous reciprocal state visits by high-ranking officials. These measures have contributed significantly to subregional cooperation, development, and the reduction of tension.^[1]

As an example of Ghana's interest in regional cooperation, the country enthusiastically endorsed formation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975. This organisation was created specifically to foster inter-regional economic and political cooperation. It has served as a useful vehicle for contacts with neighbouring West African governments and for channelling increased Ghanaian exports to regional markets. Since 1990 ECOWAS has been engaged in a peacekeeping mission in Liberia to which Ghana has contributed a large contingent of troops. Ghana has participated in other international peacekeeping efforts as well, sending soldiers to operations of the United Nations (UN) in Cambodia in 1992-93 and Rwanda in 1993-94.^[1]

In August 1994, Rawlings became ECOWAS chairman, a post that had eluded him since the PNDC came to power. He immediately undertook several initiatives to reduce tensions and conflict in West Africa. Notable among them was the Akosombo Accord of September 12, designed to end civil war in Liberia.^[1]

Strategic bilateral relations

Strategic Africa

Burkina Faso

Bordering state

With the coming to power of Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso in 1983, relations between Ghana and Burkina became both warm and close. Indeed, Rawlings and Sankara began discussions about uniting Ghana and Burkina in the manner of the defunct Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union, which Nkrumah had sought unsuccessfully to promote as a foundation for his dream of unified continental government. Political and economic ties between Ghana and Burkina, a poorer country, were strengthened through joint commissions of cooperation and through border demarcation committee meetings. Frequent high-level consultations and joint military exercises, meant to discourage potential dissidents and to protect young "revolutions" in each country, were fairly regular features of Ghana-Burkina relations.^[1]

Ivory Coast

Bordering state

Ghana-Ivory Coast relations suffered from the same ups and downs that characterised Ghana-Togo relations. In early 1984, the PNDC government complained that Ivory Coast was allowing Ghanaian dissidents to use its territory as a base from which to carry out acts of sabotage against Ghana. Ghana also accused Ivory Coast of granting asylum to political agitators wanted for crimes in Ghana. Relations between Ghana and Ivory Coast improved significantly, however, after 1988. In 1989, after fifteen years of no progress, the Ghana-Ivory Coast border re-demarcation commission finally agreed on the definition of the 640-kilometer border between the two countries. The PNDC thereafter worked to improve the transportation and communication links with both Ivory Coast and Togo, despite problems with both countries.^[1]

Togo

Bordering state

The strains in Ghana-Togo relations stretch back to pre-independence days. After 1918, following the defeat of Germany, the League of Nations divided the German colony of Togoland from north to south, a decision that divided the Ewe people among the Gold Coast, British Togoland, and French Togoland. After 1945, the United Nations took over the Togoland mandates. During the 1950s, when the independence of Ghana was in sight, demands grew for a separate Ewe state, an idea that Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Gold Coast independence movement, opposed. Following a UN plebiscite in May 1956, in which a majority of the Ewe voted for union with Ghana, British Togoland became part of the Gold Coast.^[1][2] After Togolese independence in 1960, relations between Togo and Ghana deteriorated, aggravated by political differences and incidents such as smuggling across their common border. At times, relations have verged on open aggression.^[1]

The result of the transfer of Togoland to Ghana has meant that many Togolese keep one foot on either side of the border, living in Ghana by night and working in the markets of the capital, Lomé, by day.^[2]

South Africa

Strategic Africa and Antarctic

South Africa has a high commission in Ghana and Ghana has a high commission in Pretoria.

Nigeria

Despite close cultural ties, diplomatic relations between the two countries have in many instances been volatile. After the takeover in November 1993 by General Sani Abacha as the new Nigerian head of state, Ghana and Nigeria continued to consult on economic, political, and security issues affecting the two countries and West Africa as a whole. Between early August 1994 when Rawlings became ECOWAS chairman and the end of the following October, the Ghanaian president visited Nigeria three times to discuss the peace process in Liberia and measures to restore democracy in that country.^[1]

Strategic East Asia

China

Ghana's relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) date back to 1960 when President Nkrumah became one of Africa's first leaders to recognise the country. Ghana and the PRC have had close and relatively good relations in that time despite a short period of relatively cold relations after Nkrumah was deposed in 1966.

Japan

Ghana and Japan maintain a special relationship and Japan has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Tokyo.

South Korea

Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Ghana was on 14 November 1977. The number of South Koreans living in Ghana in 2011 was 691.^[3]

Strategic South Asia

India

Ghana and India maintain an historic special relationship and India has a High Commission in Accra^[4] and Ghana has an High Commission in New Delhi.^[5]

Pakistan

Pakistan and Ghana enjoy amicable and cordial relations. There has been historical support extended by Pakistan to the African states particularly OIC member states in which Ghana has significant importance. Despite this, there have been low level of bilateral trade between the two countries. Volume of bilateral trade during 2011 was just $19 million.^[6]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has an embassy in Accra and Ghana has an embassy in Dhaka.

Strategic South East Asia

Malaysia

Ghana has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur,^[7] and Malaysia has a high commission in Accra.^[8]

Indonesia

Indonesia has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Jakarta.

Singapore

Ghana and Singapore maintain an historic special relationship and Singapore has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Downtown Core.

Thailand

The Mission of Thailand accredited to Ghana is the Royal Thai Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, while the High Commission of Ghana in Kuala Lumpur is accredited to Thailand.

Vietnam

Vietnam has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Hanoi.

Strategic Arctic and Eurasia

Russia

Russia has an embassy in Accra, and Ghana has an embassy in Moscow. In 2008, assurances from Russia's ambassador to Ghana concerning assistance to sustain the fight against mosquitoes and environmental pollution in the region were very much appreciated since they were the major problems confronting Accra.

Denmark

Strategic Scandinavia

Denmark has historic relations with Ghana from once possessing Danish Gold Coast and Denmark has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Copenhagen.

Strategic Persian Gulf and Middle East

Iran

Ghana and Iran maintain an historic special relationship and Iran has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Tehran.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Strategic Caribbean

Cuba

Ghana and Cuba maintain a historic special relationship and Cuba has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Havana.

Jamaica

Ghana and Jamaica maintain an historic special relationship and Jamaica has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Kingston.

Strategic South America

Brazil

Ghana and Brazil maintain a special relationship and Brazil has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Brasília.

Colombia

Ghana and Colombia’s diplomatic relations dated back to 1988 but it remained dormant until July 2013 when Colombia opened its embassy in Accra. Colombia helps Ghana by providing assistance on building capacity of the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service and the Narcotics Control Board on cybersecurity and drug trafficking.^[13]

Strategic Oceania

Australia

Ghana and Australia maintain a special relationship and Australia has a high commission in Ghana and Ghana has a high commission in Canberra.

Ghana also has a Consulate-General in Sydney, New South Wales.^[14]

Bilateral relations

Canada

Canada has a High Commission in Ghana and Ghana has an High Commission in Ottawa.

Egypt

Egypt has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Cairo.

Kosovo

Ghana officially recognised the Republic of Kosovo on 23 January 2012.^[15] Ghana and Kosovo later established diplomatic relations on 4 October 2012.^[16]

Israel

Israel has an embassy in Ghana and Ghana has an embassy in Tel Aviv.

United States

The United States is among Ghana's trading partners. The Office of the President of Ghana worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Accra to establish an American Chamber of Commerce to continue to develop closer economic ties in the private sector. Major U.S. companies operating in the country include ACS, CMS Energy, Coca Cola, S.C. Johnson, Ralston Purina, Star-Kist, A.H. Robins, Sterling, Pfizer, IBM, 3M, Motorola, Stewart & Stevenson, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and National Cash Register (NCR). Several U.S. firms recently made or are considering investments in Ghana, primarily in gold mining, wood products, and petroleum. U.S. mining giant Newmont entered Ghana's mining sector in 2004 and intends to invest up to $1 billion. In late 1997, Nuevo Petroleum concluded an oil exploration agreement accounting for one of Ghana's offshore mineral rights zones. Several other U.S. oil companies also are engaged in offshore exploration.

Ghana and the Commonwealth of Nations

Ghana has been a member state of the Commonwealth since independence in 1957, firstly as a Commonwealth realm, then as a Commonwealth republic. Due to Ghana being a part of the British Empire and wishing to maintain ties to the other former parts of the old Empire including the UK.

See also

• Visa policy of Ghana
• Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)
• List of diplomatic missions in Ghana
• List of diplomatic missions of Ghana

References