President John Dramani Mahama delivered his State of the Nation address to Parliament on the 27th of March, as mandated by Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Speaking at the Parliament House, President Mahama emphasized Ghana’s steadfast commitment to its pan-Africanist ideals, non-alignment, democracy, global cooperation, and the principles of multilateralism. He underscored Ghana’s policy of being friends to all and enemies to none, stating that Ghana will continue to cooperate with countries based on the principle of reciprocity.
In his address, President Mahama expressed his commitment to promoting African unity through mutual respect and shared values. He spoke about the importance of export diversification in ensuring foreign engagements help boost cooperation. The President also discussed working with the Sahel region to resolve security issues, noting he had employed a special envoy to help sustain diplomatic relations with the aim of reinstating them back to ECOWAS if possible.
President Mahama further spoke on improving processes for Ghanaians obtaining passports, stating that the passport registration process will take a short period, specifically within a 24-hour process. His speech highlighted the importance of cooperation with other countries in ensuring smooth international relations. Additionally, President Mahama promised to ensure there will be free scholarships for people within the ECOWAS region, with a number of 1000 students to be admitted into public tertiary institutions in Ghana. This initiative is expected to boost regional integration and promote academic collaboration.
AFRICAN VOICES INTERNATIONAL, FREEDOM IN AFRICA
