President John Dramani Mahama has held bilateral talks with Suriname’s President, Dr Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, with both leaders signalling renewed commitment to expanding economic, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Ghana and the South American country.
The meeting focused on translating the longstanding historical and cultural links between the two countries into practical areas of cooperation, including education, economic relations and the development of the gold sector.
According to the Government of Suriname, the two presidents emphasised that the historical relationship between Ghana and Suriname provides a foundation for a more forward-looking partnership capable of generating mutual economic and development benefits.
The Focus on Trade, Investment and the Gold Sector
A major component of the discussions was economic cooperation, with particular attention to the gold sector.
The focus comes as both countries seek to leverage their natural-resource strengths while improving the economic value generated from bilateral relations. For Ghana, one of Africa’s major gold producers, deeper engagement with Suriname could create opportunities for knowledge exchange, investment partnerships and cooperation around the development of the gold industry.
The two sides also discussed broader economic cooperation, signalling an interest in moving beyond diplomatic relations towards concrete initiatives capable of supporting sustainable development and creating opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Education was also identified as an area for stronger collaboration, potentially providing a platform for academic exchanges, skills development and closer institutional links between Ghanaian and Surinamese institutions.
New Framework for Bilateral Cooperation
The Presidential meeting was reinforced by the signing of a Joint Declaration on strengthened bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Suriname.
The declaration was signed in New York by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation, Melvin Bouva, in the presence of Presidents Mahama and Simons.
The Joint Declaration places particular emphasis on regular political dialogue and consultations between the two governments. It also provides for the renewal of the Bilateral Roadmap for 2026–2029, which is intended to provide a practical framework for identifying priorities, monitoring implementation and advancing agreed initiatives.
The framework is expected to help move the relationship from broad diplomatic commitments towards measurable programmes and projects.
Ghana’s AU Role and Suriname’s CARICOM Leadership
The discussions also took on a wider regional dimension where Ghana is preparing to assume the chairmanship of the African Union in 2027, while Suriname is set to assume the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community(CARICOM)
The two Presidents discussed how their respective regional roles could be used to deepen economic and diplomatic links between Africa and the Caribbean.
President Mahama has separately outlined an ambition to strengthen cooperation among the African Union, CARICOM and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), particularly around trade and the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
”For businesses, closer Africa–Caribbean engagement could create opportunities for expanded trade, investment, tourism, education, mobility and South-South cooperation. This joint declaration similarly commits Ghana and Suriname to stronger coordination within multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, African Union and CARICOM.”
President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama
Both countries intend to cooperate on issues affecting developing countries and vulnerable economies, including sustainable development, climate action, international peace and security, reparatory justice and historical justice.
Visa-Free Travel and Stronger Connectivity
People-to-people mobility was another important issue discussed by the two presidents. President Mahama expressed particular interest in the possibility of introducing a visa-waiver arrangement for holders of ordinary passports between Ghana and Suriname.
Such an arrangement, if implemented, could reduce barriers to business travel, tourism, cultural exchanges and other forms of interaction between citizens of the two countries.
Suriname, for its part, highlighted the importance of air connectivity and the implementation of an existing air services agreement between the two countries. Improved air links could provide an important foundation for increasing commercial and tourism exchanges between West Africa and South America.
The issue fits into Ghana’s broader diplomatic push to negotiate practical bilateral arrangements covering visa waivers, labour mobility, scholarships, trade, investment and infrastructure.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister has said these engagements are intended to secure tangible opportunities for citizens, including jobs, industrialisation, value addition and infrastructure development.
Historical Ties and Future Economic Opportunities
The relationship also carries a significant historical dimension. Ghana and Suriname share links shaped by the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the African diaspora in Suriname.
During the meeting, President Mahama expressed appreciation for Suriname’s support for UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250, a Ghana-led resolution adopted in March 2026 concerning the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans.
The United Nations records that the resolution was adopted with 123 votes in favour, three against and 52 abstentions. The two countries are therefore seeking to use their shared history as a foundation for contemporary cooperation in areas that can produce economic and social benefits.
President Simons also received an invitation to Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary celebrations in 2027. In addition, Suriname has indicated its intention to propose President Mahama as a special guest at the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to take place in Suriname from February 16 to 19, 2027.
The latest engagement consequently marks an effort by Ghana and Suriname to deepen relations beyond traditional diplomacy. With cooperation now being structured around a 2026–2029 roadmap, economic sectors such as gold, trade, investment and education, alongside improved mobility and connectivity, are emerging as key pillars of the evolving Ghana–Suriname partnership.
The broader objective is to transform historical ties into a practical partnership capable of supporting business exchanges, sustainable development and stronger economic links between Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
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