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The foreign relations of Ghana are 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. Ghana generally 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.
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]
List of Countries which Ghana maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | United Kingdom | 6 March 1957[2] |
2 | India | 6 March 1957[3] |
3 | Japan | 6 March 1957[4] |
4 | Philippines | 6 March 1957[5] |
5 | United States | 6 March 1957[6] |
6 | Germany | 24 June 1957[7] |
7 | Liberia | June 1957[8] |
8 | France | 7 July 1957[9] |
9 | Canada | 30 October 1957[10] |
10 | Israel | October 1957[11] |
11 | Russia | 15 January 1958[12] |
12 | Australia | 21 February 1958[13] |
13 | Tunisia | 11 June 1958[14] |
14 | Guinea | 1958[15] |
15 | Turkey | 1958[16][17] |
16 | Serbia | 10 January 1959[18] |
17 | Lebanon | 30 March 1959[19][20] |
18 | Ethiopia | 10 April 1959[21] |
19 | Netherlands | 9 May 1959[22] |
20 | Indonesia | 2 September 1959[23] |
21 | Sudan | 20 September 1959[24] |
22 | Belgium | 2 October 1959[25] |
23 | Cuba | 23 December 1959[26] |
24 | Poland | 31 December 1959[27] |
25 | Saudi Arabia | 1 April 1960[28] |
26 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1 July 1960[29] |
27 | China | 5 July 1960[30] |
28 | Switzerland | 19 July 1960[31] |
29 | Nigeria | 1 October 1960[32] |
30 | Mali | 14 October 1960[33] |
31 | Brazil | 1960[34] |
32 | Libya | 1960[35] |
33 | Morocco | 1960[36] |
34 | Czech Republic | 18 January 1961[37] |
35 | Sri Lanka | 6 March 1961[38] |
36 | Ivory Coast | 15 March 1961[39] |
37 | Argentina | 28 March 1961[40] |
38 | Senegal | 21 April 1961[41] |
39 | Sierra Leone | 27 April 1961[42] |
40 | Burkina Faso | 12 June 1961[43] |
41 | Hungary | 29 July 1961[44] |
42 | Afghanistan | 2 August 1961[45] |
43 | Mexico | 8 August 1961[46] |
44 | Bulgaria | 10 August 1961[47] |
45 | Romania | 10 August 1961[48] |
46 | Niger | 24 August 1961[49] |
47 | Albania | August 1961[50] |
48 | Denmark | 28 September 1961[51] |
49 | Chile | 6 October 1961[52] |
50 | Somalia | 1961[53] |
51 | Sweden | 27 April 1962[54] |
52 | Benin | 20 June 1962[55] |
53 | Uganda | 1962[56][57] |
54 | Togo | 21 January 1963[58] |
55 | Algeria | 2 May 1963[59] |
56 | Cameroon | 20 August 1963[60] |
57 | Kenya | 16 December 1963[61] |
58 | Republic of the Congo | 8 February 1964[62] |
59 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 March 1964[63] |
60 | Malawi | 8 July 1964[64] |
61 | Burundi | 25 August 1964[65] |
62 | Zambia | 30 November 1964[66] |
63 | North Korea | 28 December 1964[67] |
64 | Venezuela | 16 March 1965[68] |
65 | Vietnam | 25 March 1965[69] |
66 | Norway | 19 May 1965[70] |
67 | Gambia | 28 May 1965[71] |
68 | Mongolia | 7 December 1965[72] |
69 | Tanzania | 20 December 1965[73] |
70 | Lesotho | 24 November 1966[74] |
71 | Central African Republic | 14 June 1967[75] |
72 | Chad | 24 July 1967[76] |
73 | Spain | 10 November 1967[77] |
74 | Jamaica | 15 November 1967[78] |
75 | Austria | 23 December 1967[79][80] |
76 | Malaysia | 1967[81] |
77 | Luxembourg | 21 February 1968[82] |
78 | Rwanda | 1969[83] |
79 | Equatorial Guinea | 4 June 1971[84] |
80 | Greece | 31 July 1973[85] |
81 | Malta | 27 February 1974[86] |
82 | Bangladesh | 19 July 1974[87] |
83 | Iran | 1974[88] |
84 | Kuwait | 1974[89] |
85 | Portugal | 27 May 1975[90] |
— | Holy See | 20 November 1975[91] |
86 | Suriname | 24 November 1975[92] |
87 | Angola | 8 October 1976[93] |
88 | Papua New Guinea | 22 August 1977[94] |
89 | Cape Verde | 4 October 1977[95] |
90 | South Korea | 14 November 1977[96] |
91 | Finland | 1 December 1977[97] |
92 | Iceland | 1977[98] |
93 | Bahrain | 9 April 1978[99] |
94 | Mozambique | 27 June 1978[100] |
95 | Guyana | 14 May 1979[101] |
96 | Botswana | 21 May 1979[102] |
— | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 24 August 1979[103] |
97 | Zimbabwe | 1980[104] |
98 | Qatar | 25 July 1981[105] |
99 | United Arab Emirates | 25 August 1981[106][107] |
100 | Belize | September 1981[108] |
101 | Uruguay | 24 May 1982[109] |
102 | Thailand | 25 October 1985[110] |
103 | Peru | 23 June 1987[111] |
104 | Bolivia | 3 December 1987[112] |
105 | Colombia | 23 June 1988[111] |
106 | Seychelles | 10 October 1988[111] |
— | State of Palestine | 17 February 1989[113] |
107 | Panama | 24 February 1989[114] |
108 | Oman | 1 March 1989[115] |
109 | Cyprus | 5 May 1989[116] |
110 | Maldives | 10 August 1989[111] |
111 | Singapore | 11 October 1989[117] |
112 | Namibia | 21 March 1990[118] |
113 | Ireland | 1990[119] |
114 | Brunei | 10 December 1991[120] |
115 | Latvia | 3 January 1992[121] |
116 | Estonia | 5 February 1992[122] |
117 | Belarus | 5 May 1992[123] |
118 | Armenia | 29 May 1992[124] |
119 | Ukraine | 17 June 1992[125] |
120 | Kyrgyzstan | 26 June 1992[126] |
121 | Lithuania | 10 July 1992[127] |
122 | Kazakhstan | 14 August 1992[128] |
123 | Moldova | 28 August 1992[129] |
124 | Azerbaijan | 11 September 1992[130] |
125 | Turkmenistan | 17 September 1992[131] |
126 | Georgia | 4 December 1992[132] |
127 | Slovenia | 15 February 1993[133] |
128 | Croatia | 17 February 1993[134] |
129 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | June 1993[135] |
130 | Slovakia | 1 October 1993[136] |
131 | Uzbekistan | 28 October 1993[137] |
132 | Tajikistan | 2 November 1993[138] |
133 | South Africa | 6 May 1994[139] |
134 | Barbados | August 1994[140] |
135 | Guatemala | 26 September 1994[141] |
136 | Myanmar | 13 January 1995[142] |
137 | Cambodia | 24 May 1995[143] |
138 | Yemen | 30 November 1995[144] |
139 | North Macedonia | 7 February 1996[145] |
140 | New Zealand | 23 June 1999[146] |
141 | Costa Rica | 11 July 2000[147] |
142 | Nicaragua | 16 May 2003[148] |
143 | Eritrea | 26 August 2004[149] |
144 | Ecuador | 10 May 2007[150] |
145 | Jordan | 5 June 2007[151] |
146 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 August 2008[152] |
147 | San Marino | 5 November 2008[153] |
148 | Bahamas | 17 March 2011[154] |
149 | Andorra | 31 March 2011[155] |
150 | Honduras | 29 August 2011[156] |
151 | Montenegro | 20 September 2012[111] |
— | Kosovo (suspended) | 4 October 2012[157] |
152 | Fiji | 12 October 2012[158] |
153 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 13 February 2013[111] |
154 | South Sudan | 15 September 2014[159] |
155 | Comoros | 5 July 2015[160] |
156 | East Timor | 15 June 2016[161] |
157 | Dominica | 18 January 2018[111] |
158 | Dominican Republic | 23 September 2019[111] |
159 | Nepal | 25 September 2019[111] |
160 | Monaco | 26 September 2019[111] |
161 | Laos | 27 September 2019[162] |
162 | Liechtenstein | 19 December 2019[111] |
163 | Samoa | 20 December 2019[111] |
164 | Antigua and Barbuda | Before March 2020[163] |
165 | Paraguay | 17 June 2021[164] |
166 | El Salvador | 18 September 2023[165] |
— | Cook Islands | 8 November 2023[166] |
167 | Madagascar | 24 September 2024[167] |
168 | Saint Lucia | 24 September 2024[168] |
169 | Djibouti | Unknown |
170 | Egypt | Unknown |
171 | Eswatini | Unknown |
172 | Gabon | Unknown |
173 | Grenada | Unknown[169] |
174 | Guinea-Bissau | Unknown[170] |
175 | Haiti | Unknown |
176 | Iraq | Unknown |
177 | Italy | Unknown |
178 | Mauritania | Unknown |
179 | Mauritius | Unknown |
180 | Pakistan | Unknown |
181 | São Tomé and Príncipe | Unknown[171] |
182 | Syria | Unknown |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Algeria | 1962 | |
Burkina Faso | 12 June 1961 | See Burkina Faso–Ghana relations
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.[172]
|
Egypt | 7 November 1957 |
|
Guinea | 1958 |
|
Ivory Coast | 15 March 1961 | See Ivory Coast–Ghana relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 March 1961.[39] 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.[174]
|
Kenya | 16 December 1963 | See Ghana–Kenya relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 December 1963.
|
Namibia | 21 March 1990 |
|
Nigeria | 1 October 1960 | See Ghana–Nigeria relations
Ghana set up a commission in 1959 when Nigeria was still a dependent territory. This was elevated to High Commission status on the attainment of Nigeria's independence on 1 October 1960[175] 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] |
Senegal | 21 April 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 April 1961.
|
South Africa | 6 May 1994 | See Ghana–South Africa relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 May 1994[176]
|
Togo | 21 January 1963 | See Ghana–Togo relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 January 1963.[58] 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][177] 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.[174] 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.[177]
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Argentina | 28 March 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 March 1961[40]
|
Brazil | 2 January 1961 |
|
Canada | 17 May 1957 |
|
Chile | 6 October 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 October 1961[52]
|
Colombia | 23 June 1988 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1988[178] 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.[179]
|
Cuba | 23 December 1959 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 December 1959[26]
|
Jamaica | 8 May 1968 | See Ghana–Jamaica relations
|
Mexico | 8 August 1961 | See Ghana–Mexico relations
Ghana and Mexico established diplomatic relations on 8 August 1961.[46] Soon afterwards, both nations opened embassies in each other's capitals, respectively. In 1972, Ghana closed its embassy in Mexico City. Mexico closed its embassy in Accra in 1980.[180] Mexico re-opened its embassy in Ghana in 2013.
|
Peru | 23 June 1987 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1987[183]
|
Suriname | 1 April 1977 | See: Ghana-Suriname relations |
United States | 6 March 1957 | See Ghana–United States relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1957[185] 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.
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Bangladesh | 19 July 1974 | See Bangladesh–Ghana relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 July 1974 when Bangladesh High Commissioner to Ghana presented his credentials to the Head of State Colonel I. K. Acheampong.[186]
|
China | 5 July 1960 | See China–Ghana relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 July 1960.[30] 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.
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India | 6 March 1957 | See Ghana–India relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1957.[187]
|
Indonesia | 1959 |
|
Israel | 6 March 1957, severed 28 October 1973, restored 9 August 1994 | See Ghana–Israel relations
|
Japan | 12 March 1959 |
|
Malaysia | 5 December 1966 | See Ghana–Malaysia relations
|
Pakistan | 1958 |
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 has been a low level of bilateral trade between the two countries. The volume of bilateral trade during 2011 was just $19 million.[188]
|
Saudi Arabia | 1 April 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 April 1960.
|
Turkey | 1958 | See Ghana–Turkey relations |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Denmark | 28 September 1961 | See Denmark–Ghana relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 September 1961 when was accredited first Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana Mr. Hans Adolf Biering[51] Denmark has historic relations with Ghana from once possessing Danish Gold Coast.
|
France | 1957 |
|
Germany | 24 June 1957 | See Germany–Ghana relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1957.
|
Italy |
| |
Malta | 27 February 1974 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 February 1974[86]
|
Poland | 31 December 1959 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 December 1959[27]
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Russia | 14 January 1958 | See Ghana–Russia relations
|
Spain | 10 November 1967 | See Ghana–Spain relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 November 1967[190]
|
United Kingdom | 6 March 1957 | See Ghana–United Kingdom relations
Ghana established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 6 March 1957.
The UK governed Ghana from 1821 to 1957, when it achieved full independence. Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact,[192] the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership,[193] an Economic Partnership Agreement,[194] a High Level Prosperity Partnership,[195] and an Investment Agreement.[196] |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Australia | 21 February 1958 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 February 1958[13]
|
New Zealand | 1 March 2001 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 March 2001.[197]
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Ghana has been a member state of the Commonwealth since independence in 1957, firstly as a Dominion, then as a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations.
Z.K.H. Prins Bernhard heeft vanmorgen jn tegenwoordigheid van de Hoge Commissaris van Ghana, Z.E. Asafu Adjay...
Libya : Ghana's mission in Tripoli from 1960 and for many years afterwards was occupied by a Chargé d'Affaires
M. K. Ameko, Ambassadeur du Ghana à Bujumbura depuis le 25 août 1964.
Ghana - Central African Republic . Mr. Quashie, Ghanaian Ambassador to the CAR, has presented his credentials to President Bokassa. (MAC 14/6)
Chad-Ghana. M. John Quashie, the new Ghanian Ambassador to Chad, with residence in Kinshasa, has presented his credentials to President Tombalbaye (ATP 24/7)
Ghana-Equatorial Guinea. The Ghanaian Ambassador to Nigeria, Major-General M. A. Aferi, has been accredited to Equatorial Guinea on a non-residential basis. (GT 4/6)