President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Doha, Qatar, to participate in the 2025 edition of the Doha Forum, a high-level global platform that brings together world leaders, policymakers, and thinkers to deliberate on pressing international challenges.
The President arrived in the Qatari capital at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, underscoring the deepening ties between Accra and Doha.
According to the Presidency, President Mahama will deliver two major interventions at this year’s Forum. His first appearance will be an opening statement on the theme “Education as Justice in Times of Crisis,” a subject that aligns strongly with his long-standing advocacy for equitable access to quality education across the developing world.
He is expected to highlight the role of education as both a stabilising force and an instrument for social justice in fragile contexts. The President will later join a panel session dedicated to “Economic Empowerment in Africa: Pathway to Inclusive Prosperity,” where he is scheduled to share insights on the continent’s development trajectory, investment requirements, and the kinds of partnerships needed to drive broad-based economic transformation.
The panel discussion comes at a time when African governments are intensifying calls for fairer global economic arrangements and increased access to capital for critical infrastructure, agriculture, and technological innovation.
Meeting with the Emir of Qatar
While in Doha, President Mahama will also hold bilateral talks with the Emir of Qatar. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation between the two nations, which have enjoyed more than four decades of diplomatic and economic collaboration.
The President travelled aboard a Qatar Airways Executive Jet provided by the State of Qatar. He is expected to conclude his engagements and depart Doha on Sunday.
President Mahama’s participation in the Doha Forum forms part of a series of high-level international engagements he has undertaken since assuming office in January 2025.
Over the past months, he has embarked on official visits to China, Japan, Singapore, and France, while also hosting prominent global leaders in Accra, including the Presidents of Germany, Grenada, and Eswatini, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh.
These engagements have been positioned as part of Ghana’s renewed diplomatic strategy aimed at expanding partnerships, attracting investment, and strengthening the country’s presence in multilateral decision-making spaces.
Ghana and Qatar continue to maintain steadily expanding bilateral relations. Although formal ties date back to 1981, the relationship has experienced notable momentum in the last decade.
Qatar opened its embassy in Accra in September 2018, a significant milestone that marked a shift toward deeper engagement. Ghana followed by opening its embassy in Doha in May 2018, and in 2024, Accra elevated its mission in Qatar’s capital as part of efforts to enhance political, trade, and consular cooperation.
High-level visits have also played a key role in advancing cooperation. In December 2017, the Emir of Qatar paid an official visit to Ghana, during which several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed across multiple sectors. Since then, both nations have expanded their collaboration in areas ranging from investment and energy to labour mobility and aviation.
Negotiation of a Labour Mobility Agreement
A major pillar of current engagement is the ongoing negotiation of a labour mobility agreement aimed at creating structured opportunities for skilled young Ghanaians to work in Qatar.
The two countries are also working to ease visa requirements to enhance the movement of people and goods, signalling a commitment to building a more dynamic economic partnership.
Trade and investment continue to feature prominently in the relationship. Qatar views Ghana as a stable and strategic entry point into the West African market, and discussions remain ongoing on the establishment of a Ghana–Qatar Chamber of Commerce to facilitate increased business exchanges.
In addition, Qatar Airways’ direct flights between Accra and Doha have strengthened connectivity, promoting greater commercial activity and people-to-people contact.
On the geopolitical front, Ghana and Qatar have agreed to deepen security cooperation, collaborate in peacebuilding efforts, and promote engagements between their respective armed forces.
These efforts are supported by several existing agreements, including arrangements on the avoidance of double taxation, the establishment of a trade and investment committee, and cooperation in sports and youth development.
As President Mahama joins world leaders at the Doha Forum 2025, Ghana’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to multilateral dialogue, global partnerships, and shared responsibility in addressing international challenges.
It also signals Accra’s determination to leverage its diplomatic engagements to support national development priorities at home.
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