Foreign relations of Ghana

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists 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.

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."

File:Nkrumah, his family and Nasser, 1965.jpg

Kwame Nkrumah and his family meeting Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser during the 1965 OAU Summit in Accra.

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.

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.

File:Diplomatic missions of Ghana.PNG

Diplomatic missions of Ghana

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.

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 12 September, designed to end civil war in Liberia.

Diplomatic relations

List of Countries which Ghana maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Ghana.svg
#	Country	Date
1	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
2	India	Template:Dts
3	Japan	Template:Dts
4	Philippines	Template:Dts
5	United States	Template:Dts
6	Liberia	Template:Dts
7	France	Template:Dts
8	Germany	Template:Dts
9	Canada	Template:Dts
10	Israel	Template:Dts
11	Egypt	Template:Dts
12	Russia	Template:Dts
13	Australia	Template:Dts
14	Tunisia	Template:Dts
15	Pakistan	Template:Dts
16	Turkey	Template:Dts
17	Guinea	Template:Dts
18	Serbia	Template:Dts
19	Netherlands	Template:Dts
20	Lebanon	Template:Dts
21	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
22	Sudan	Template:Dts
23	Indonesia	Template:Dts
24	Cuba	Template:Dts
25	Poland	Template:Dts
26	Belgium	Template:Dts
27	Libya	Template:Dts
28	Brazil	Template:Dts
29	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
30	Iraq	Template:Dts
31	Morocco	Template:Dts
32	China	Template:Dts
33	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
34	Switzerland	Template:Dts
35	Nigeria	Template:Dts
36	Mali	Template:Dts
37	Italy	Template:Dts
38	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
39	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
40	Somalia
41	Haiti	Template:Dts
42	Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
43	Argentina	Template:Dts
44	Senegal	Template:Dts
45	Sierra Leone	Template:Dts
46	Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
47	Hungary	Template:Dts
48	Afghanistan	Template:Dts
49	Mexico	Template:Dts
50	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
51	Romania	Template:Dts
52	Albania	Template:Dts
53	Niger	Template:Dts
54	Denmark	Template:Dts
55	Chile	Template:Dts
56	Sweden	Template:Dts
57	Benin	Template:Dts
58	Togo	Template:Dts
59	Algeria	Template:Dts
60	Uganda	Template:Dts
61	Cameroon	Template:Dts
62	Kenya	Template:Dts
63	Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
64	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
65	Malawi	Template:Dts
66	Burundi	Template:Dts
67	Zambia	Template:Dts
68	North Korea	Template:Dts
69	Venezuela	Template:Dts
70	Vietnam	Template:Dts
71	Mauritania	Template:Dts
72	Norway	Template:Dts
73	Gambia	Template:Dts
74	Mongolia	Template:Dts
75	Tanzania	Template:Dts
76	Rwanda	Template:Dts
77	Lesotho	Template:Dts
78	Malaysia	Template:Dts
79	Central African Republic	Template:Dts
80	Chad	Template:Dts
81	Spain	Template:Dts
82	Austria	Template:Dts
83	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
84	Jamaica	Template:Dts
85	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
86	Greece	Template:Dts
87	Malta	Template:Dts
88	Iran	Template:Dts
89	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
90	Kuwait	Template:Dts
91	Portugal	Template:Dts
92	Botswana	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
93	Suriname	Template:Dts
94	Angola	Template:Dts
95	Papua New Guinea	Template:Dts
96	Cape Verde	Template:Dts
97	Iceland	Template:Dts
98	South Korea	Template:Dts
99	Finland	Template:Dts
100	Bahrain	Template:Dts
101	Mozambique	Template:Dts
102	Eswatini	Template:Dts
103	Ecuador	Template:Dts
104	Guyana	Template:Dts
—	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	Template:Dts
105	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
106	Qatar	Template:Dts
107	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
108	Belize	Template:Dts
109	Gabon	Template:Dts
110	Uruguay	Template:Dts
111	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
112	Thailand	Template:Dts
113	Peru	Template:Dts
114	Bolivia	Template:Dts
115	Colombia	Template:Dts
116	Seychelles	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts
117	Panama	Template:Dts
118	Oman	Template:Dts
119	Cyprus	Template:Dts
120	Maldives	Template:Dts
121	Singapore	Template:Dts
122	Namibia	Template:Dts
123	Ireland	Template:Dts
124	Brunei	Template:Dts
125	Latvia	Template:Dts
126	Estonia	Template:Dts
127	Belarus	Template:Dts
128	Armenia	Template:Dts
129	Ukraine	Template:Dts
130	Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
131	Lithuania	Template:Dts
132	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
133	Moldova	Template:Dts
134	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
135	Turkmenistan	Template:Dts
136	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
137	Slovenia	Template:Dts
138	Croatia	Template:Dts
139	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Template:Dts
140	Slovakia	Template:Dts
141	Uzbekistan	Template:Dts
142	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
143	South Africa	Template:Dts
144	Barbados	Template:Dts
145	Guatemala	Template:Dts
146	Myanmar	Template:Dts
147	Cambodia	Template:Dts
148	Yemen	Template:Dts
149	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
150	New Zealand	Template:Dts
151	Costa Rica	Template:Dts
152	Timor-Leste	Template:Dts
153	Mauritius	Template:Dts
154	Eritrea	Template:Dts
155	Bahamas	Template:Dts
156	Jordan	Template:Dts
157	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
158	San Marino	Template:Dts
159	Andorra	Template:Dts
160	Honduras	Template:Dts
161	Djibouti	Template:Dts
162	Montenegro	Template:Dts
—	Kosovo	Template:Dts
163	Fiji	Template:Dts
164	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
165	South Sudan	Template:Dts
166	Comoros	Template:Dts
167	Dominica	Template:Dts
168	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
169	Nepal	Template:Dts
170	Monaco	Template:Dts
171	Laos	Template:Dts
172	Liechtenstein	Template:Dts
173	Samoa	Template:Dts
174	Antigua and Barbuda	Before March 2020
175	Paraguay	Template:Dts
176	São Tomé and Príncipe	Template:Dts
177	El Salvador	Template:Dts
—	Cook Islands	Template:Dts
178	Guinea-Bissau	Template:Dts
179	Grenada	Template:Dts
180	Madagascar	Template:Dts
181	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
182	Syria	UnknownTemplate:Fact

Bilateral relations

Africa

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Burkina Faso	Template:Dts	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. Burkina Faso has an embassy in Accra. Ghana has an embassy in Ouagadougou.
Guinea	1958	Guinea has an embassy in Accra, which was opened in 1958. Ghana has an embassy in Conakry which is also accredited to Guinea-Bissau.
Ivory Coast	15 March 1961	See Ivory Coast–Ghana relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 March 1961. 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. Ghana has an embassy in Abidjan. Ivory Coast has an embassy in Accra.
Kenya	16 December 1963	See Ghana–Kenya relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 December 1963. Ghana has a high commission in Nairobi. Kenya has a high commission in Accra.
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 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. Ghana has a high commission in Abuja and a consulate-general in Lagos. Nigeria has a high commission in Accra.
South Africa	6 May 1994	See Ghana–South Africa relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 May 1994 File:Ghanan High Commission in Pretoria.JPG High Commission of Ghana in Pretoria Ghana has a high commission in Pretoria. South Africa has a high commission in Accra.
Togo	21 January 1963	See Ghana–Togo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 January 1963. 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. 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. 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. Ghana has an embassy in Lomé. Togo has an embassy in Accra.

Americas

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Brazil	2 January 1961	File:LuladaSilvaeJohnKufuor.JPG President of Ghana John Kufuor with President of Brazil Lula da Silva Brazil has an embassy in Accra. Ghana has an embassy in Brasília.
Chile	6 October 1961	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 October 1961 Chile has an embassy in Accra. Ghana is accredited to Chile from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
Colombia	23 June 1988	See Colombia–Ghana relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1988 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. Colombia has an embassy in Accra. Ghana is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
Jamaica	8 May 1968	See Ghana–Jamaica relations Ghana is accredited to Jamaica from its embassy in Havana, Cuba. Jamaica is accredited to Ghana from its high commission in Abuja, Nigeria.
Mexico	8 August 1961	See Ghana–Mexico relations Ghana and Mexico established diplomatic relations on 8 August 1961. 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. Mexico re-opened its embassy in Ghana in 2013. Ghana is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico has an embassy in Accra.
Peru	23 June 1987	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1987 Ghana is accredited to Peru from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil. Peru has an embassy in Accra.
Suriname	1 April 1977	See: Ghana-Suriname relations Accra currently hosts the only Surinamese embassy in Africa.
United States	6 March 1957	See Ghana–United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1957 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 has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and a consulate-general in New York City. United States has an embassy in Accra.

Asia

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. Bangladesh is accredited to Ghana from its high commission in Abuja, Nigeria. Ghana is accredited to Bangladesh from its high commission in New Delhi, India.
China	5 July 1960	See China–Ghana relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 July 1960. 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. China has an embassy in Accra. Ghana has an embassy in Beijing.
India	6 March 1957	See Ghana–India relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1957. Ghana has a high commission in New Delhi. India has a high commission in Accra.
Israel	6 March 1957, severed 28 October 1973, restored 9 August 1994	See Ghana–Israel relations Ghana has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel has an embassy in Accra.
Malaysia	5 December 1966	See Ghana–Malaysia relations Ghana has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has a high commission in Accra.
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. Ghana is accredited to Pakistan from its embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has a high commission in Accra.
Turkey	Template:Dts	See Ghana–Turkey relations Ghana has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Accra. Trade volume between the two countries was US$353.3 million in 2018.

Europe

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 Denmark has historic relations with Ghana from once possessing Danish Gold Coast. Denmark has an embassy in Accra. Ghana has an embassy in Copenhagen.
France	7 July 1957	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1957. France has an embassy in Accra. Ghana has an embassy in Paris.
Germany	24 June 1957	See Germany–Ghana relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1957. Germany has an embassy in Accra. Ghana has an embassy in Berlin.
Poland	31 December 1959	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 December 1959 Ghana is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Berlin, Germany. Poland is accredited to Ghana from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.
Russia	14 January 1958	See Ghana–Russia relations Ghana has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Accra.
Spain	10 November 1967	See Ghana–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 November 1967 Ghana has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Accra.
United Kingdom	6 March 1957	See Ghana–United Kingdom relations File:Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana (17924279082).jpg Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond with Ghanaian Hanna Tetteh in London, May 2015. Ghana established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 6 March 1957. Ghana maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Ghana through its high commission in Accra. The UK governed Ghana from 1821 to 1957, when Ghana achieved full independence. Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic Co-operation Pact, the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership, an Interim Trade Partnership Agreement, a High Level Prosperity Partnership, and an Investment Agreement.

Ghana and the Commonwealth of Nations

File:Chatham House Prize 2008 (6024766923).jpg

Recipient of the 2008 Chatham House Prize and 10th President of Ghana John Kufuor with Prince Philip, the Husband of the Head of the Commonwealth and Queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II.

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.

See also

• Visa policy of Ghana
• Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)
• List of diplomatic missions in Ghana
• List of diplomatic missions of Ghana
• List of ambassadors and high commissioners of Ghana
• Ghana and the Non-Aligned Movement