Ghana in the Community of Nations

In this section, you will learn about Ghana’s foreign policy and how the country relates to its neighbours and major international organisations. It explains how Ghana maintains peaceful and friendly relations with countries like Togo, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire, based on the idea of being a good neighbour. You will also explore how Ghana works with important organisations such as ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) to support peace, development, and cooperation at regional, continental, and global levels.

This section builds on what you learned in Years 1 and 2 about the types of actors in the international system. It also looks at the key actors and institutions that shape Ghana’s foreign policy, as well as the meaning and different types of diplomacy.

KEY IDEAS

• Good neighbourliness is a central pillar of Ghana’s foreign policy.

• Ghana promotes peace with neighbouring countries (Togo, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire).

• Good relations with other countries help a country grow and develop.

• Ghana works with ECOWAS, AU, and the United Nations.

One of the fundamental pillars of Ghana’s foreign policy is the Good Neighbourliness Policy, which has remained consistent across successive political administrations and leaders. Its primary objective is to foster cordial and cooperative bilateral relations with Ghana’s immediate neighbours, ensuring peace and stability along shared borders.

This policy plays a crucial role in promoting mutual trust and collaboration, which is essential for regional security and economic development. Through this policy, Ghana seeks to address key challenges that often arise in border areas, such as smuggling, illegal migration, and cross-border crimes, by strengthening security and customs cooperation with neighbouring states. It also facilitates the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes and helps prevent irredentist tendencies, which could threaten national and regional stability.

Ghana - Burkina Faso Relations Ghana has maintained consistent diplomatic relations with successive Burkinabé governments regardless of their political orientation, from military regimes to revolutionary governments to democratic administrations. Areas of bilateral engagement with Burkina Faso include:

1. Stability and collective security: Ghana works with other countries to keep the West African sub-region safe and stable. For example, through the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation, Ghana and its northern neighbour (i.e., Burkina Faso) coordinate customs rules, patrol borders together, and fight cross- border crime. Ghana also works with Burkina Faso under the Accra Initiative to stop terrorism and violent extremism from spreading from the Sahel region.

2. Trade and economic relations: Ghana and Burkina Faso trade goods and services with each other. Ghana buys livestock, cotton, vegetables, and cereals from Burkina Faso, and sells textiles, processed foods, petroleum products, and other goods to them under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

They also work together on transport and energy projects, with Ghana’s Port of Tema serving as a key route for a large part of Burkina Faso’s international trade. Burkina Faso is a landlocked country, meaning it has no access to the sea.

Because of this, most of its imports and exports pass through Ghana’s Tema harbour.

3. Cultural and social cooperation: Ghana and Burkina Faso share strong cultural and social ties, especially through common ethnic groups like the Mole- Dagbani communities along their borders. These ties promote friendship and understanding. Many Burkinabé students study in Ghanaian universities, and exchange programmes help with cultural integration and skills development.

Religious groups, both Christian and Islamic, also work across the two countries, helping with dialogue, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution, which strengthens the bond between the countries.

Other areas of cooperation include support for democratic transitions and governance, climate change and environmental cooperation, migration and human security, and infrastructure development and connectivity.

Ghana- Côte d’Ivoire Relations Diplomatic relations between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire began in 1960 after Côte d’Ivoire’s independence. At first, leaders in both countries had different political views:

Nkrumah supported Pan-African unity, while Houphouët-Boigny preferred a moderate, pro-Western approach. Despite these differences, the two countries maintained cooperation because they share a border and have strong economic ties. Some of the areas of engagement include:

1. Mediation and conflict resolution: Ghana has helped Côte d’Ivoire solve political crises, such as President Kufuor’s role in the Marcoussis Accord in France and peace talks in Accra. During the 2010–2011 conflict, Ghana welcomed Ivorian refugees, gave them humanitarian aid, and later helped them return home safely under President John Evans Atta-Mills. Ghana also provided technical support to rebuild institutions and promote lasting peace.

2. Infrastructure cooperation: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire work together on big projects to improve trade and grow their economies. This includes building better highways, improving telecommunications, and developing energy resources.

For example, both countries are part of the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Project, an important regional transport route. In energy, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire cooperate through the West African Power Pool to share electricity, support industries, and improve energy security.

3. Border security and management: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire share a 668-kilometre border, which faces challenges from cross-border ethnic connections, informal trade, and security risks from instability in Côte d’Ivoire.

To address this, the two countries hold regular security meetings, conduct joint patrols, and share intelligence. With terrorism threats moving from the Sahel toward coastal West Africa, there has been increased cooperation in counterterrorism and security monitoring. Joint military exercises and training have also strengthened their security forces and improved relations between their armed forces.

4. Peaceful resolution of maritime boundaries: Ghana has emphasised dialogue and diplomacy in resolving border disputes with Côte d’Ivoire. A major example is the maritime boundary dispute over oil-rich areas, which was peacefully settled through the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). This approach prevented conflict and reinforced both countries’ commitment to international law and regional stability.

Ghana -Togo Relations Ghana and Togo share a long-standing relationship built on geographical proximity, cultural ties, and economic interdependence. Ghana’s foreign relations with Togo focus on several areas.

1. Security cooperation and border management: Ghana and Togo share a 1,098 km border, which faces challenges like smuggling, illegal crossings, human trafficking, and occasional land disputes. To handle these issues, both countries use joint border management, focusing on diplomacy rather than conflict. This includes regular meetings between border officials, joint patrols, and coordination to prevent disputes. Through the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation, they address security concerns and carry out joint operations against drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking. During the Chereponi–Wenchiki conflict, Ghana and Togo held peace talks, worked together to restore stability, and deployed security forces to protect the border area.

2. Cooperation on infrastructure development: Ghana and Togo are actively working together towards joint infrastructure projects covering areas of transport and energy networks. Both countries have reaffirmed their commitment to completing the joint hydroelectric dam at Juale. This initiative is part of broader efforts to continue the electrification of border communities. The partnership between Ghana’s Volta River Authority (VRA) and Togolese authorities highlights the potential for energy cooperation to support industrial growth. In the road sector, the two countries collaborate under the ECOWAS framework on projects that improve regional connectivity, such as the construction and rehabilitation of Kemerida-Kara-Nachamba in Togo and Tatale-Yendi in Ghana.

Both countries are also key partners in the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Project, a major regional transport initiative designed to boost trade, reduce travel time, and promote economic integration across West Africa. Further, Ghana and Togo have strengthened their relations through joint water resource projects, notably the Sogakopé-Lomé Drinking Water Supply Project. This project aims to provide safe drinking water to communities in both countries, improving public health and quality of life.

3. Economic and trade diplomacy: Ghana and Togo trade many goods like food, clothes, and petroleum under ECOWAS rules. Ghana sells petroleum, manufactured goods, and processed foods to Togo, while buying agricultural products and textiles. At the Aflao –Lomé border, many people cross daily on footpaths called “beats” to work and trade. This close trade relationship shows how the two countries depend on each other and want to keep peace and good cooperation.

4. Political cooperation and governance: Ghana helps promote peace and stability in Togo through ECOWAS-led efforts, supporting dialogue and mediation during conflicts. Ghana has also assisted with constitutional reforms and provided aid to Togolese refugees. Both countries work together in ECOWAS election observation missions, where Ghana shares its democratic experience to support fair elections in Togo. This shows their shared commitment to democracy and good governance.

5. Socio-cultural cooperation: Ghana and Togo have strong cultural and historical ties based on shared ancestry and traditions. For centuries, people from both countries have lived peacefully, trading, farming, fishing, and intermarrying. They share similar customs like religion, naming, marriage, and burial ceremonies, and speak related languages. The Ewe people are a key link, living in both countries and keeping family and language connections despite the border. Managing these ties means respecting their shared culture while also respecting each country’s independence.

Activity 6.1 Policy of Good Neighbourliness

In groups of four, research on Ghana’s foreign policy of good neighbourliness.

With the guidance of your teacher, choose one of Ghana’s neighbouring countries:

Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, or Togo. Answer the questions on a sample worksheet provided below.

Worksheet: Ghana’s foreign policy with a neighbouring country Name of Group members

1. ……………………………………..…………….….

2. ……………………………………..…….………….

3. …………………………….………..……………….

4. ……………………………………………………… Chosen country: (Tick the chosen country you would research on against the countries below) ☐ Burkina Faso ☐ Côte d’Ivoire ☐ Togo Section A: Research Summary (half-page) From your research, use the space below to prepare a 5-10 minute group presentation of key points in class.

Group summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………...................................................……

Ghana’s foreign policy with ECOWAS is about working together with other West African countries to promote peace, unity, and trade. By taking part in ECOWAS

activities, Ghana helps improve security, business, and development in the region.

These kinds of cooperation are explained below.

Formation of ECOWAS and Leadership

Ghana played a key role in the formation of ECOWAS in 1975 and has consistently demonstrated leadership within the organisation. Several Ghanaian presidents have served as Chairpersons of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, including Jerry John Rawlings (1994 -1995), John Agyekum Kufuor (2003 - 2004), John Dramani Mahama (2014), and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (2020–2021). In these roles, Ghana has helped bring West African countries closer together, supported trade and business between them, and encouraged fair competition among the member countries.

Peace and Security

Ghana has worked hard to keep peace in West Africa. It helped end the Liberian civil war by hosting peace talks such as the Akosombo and Accra Accords (1994) and supporting Liberia’s rebuilding. Ghana also sent troops to Sierra Leone to keep peace and protect people under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), and it has helped with peace missions in Mali. This shows Ghana’s strong role in keeping the region safe.

Health Diplomacy

Ghana’s foreign policy with ECOWAS includes helping with health problems in the region. During the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak, Ghana hosted the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), which helped send workers and supplies to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Democracy and Governance

Ghana has played an active role in promoting democratic governance within ECOWAS by monitoring elections and supporting transitional processes in countries such as Nigeria and Sierra Leone. It has also engaged in mediation efforts during political crises, notably in Côte d’Ivoire (2010 - 2011) and other member states.

Economic Diplomacy

Ghana’s foreign policy with ECOWAS supports free trade through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), which makes it easier for countries to trade with each other. Ghana also helps with projects like the West African Gas Pipeline, which brings natural gas from Nigeria to Ghana, Benin, and Togo to improve energy supply and support industries.

Activity 6.2 Ghana - ECOWAS Relations Reflect on this stimulus question in a paragraph: What is the importance of ECOWAS? In your paragraph, include the following points:

a. Why was ECOWAS formed?

b. How it supports member countries.

c. Some disadvantages.

d. Why it remains important today and its current benefits.

Ghana’s foreign policy with the African Union (AU) is about working together to promote unity, peace, and growth in Africa. These ideas are explained in detail below.

Formation of the AU and Pan-African Leadership

Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence, led by Dr.

Kwame Nkrumah, who worked hard for African unity. He believed that African countries should come together politically and economically to grow and be free from colonial rule. Ghana helped start the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, which later became the African Union (AU). Nkrumah dreamed of a united Africa working as one to support each other’s security and development. Ghana also showed its leadership by hosting the African Union Summit in 2007, continuing Nkrumah’s vision for a strong and united Africa.

Liberation struggle and Anti-colonial Support Under Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana helped lead the fight against colonial rule and control in Africa. Nkrumah believed that Ghana’s independence was only meaningful if all of Africa was free. Ghana gave support to liberation movements by providing money, help, and training through meetings and workshops for freedom fighters. The Bureau of African Affairs was created to organise these efforts.

Promotion of Democratic Governance

Ghana strongly supports democracy within the African Union. It was the first country to take part in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which checks how well countries follow democratic rules. In 2006, during President Kufuor’s administration, Ghana was the first African country assessed under APRM, showing its commitment to good governance and transparency. Ghana also learns from and shares democratic ideas with other African countries through the AU.

Peacekeeping Operations

Ghana has made significant contributions to peace and security in Africa through African Union-led mechanisms, strengthening the continent’s capacity for conflict prevention and resolution. Ghanaian troops have participated in key peacekeeping missions in conflict zones such as Darfur (Sudan), Mali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These efforts reflect Ghana’s commitment to Pan-African solidarity, regional stability, and its foreign policy principle of promoting peace and security across Africa.

Economic Diplomacy

Ghana has taken a leading role in bringing African countries together to trade more with each other through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, showing it is an important centre for trade and economic cooperation in Africa. This helps Ghana support more trade, industrial growth, and development across the continent.

Other contributions of Ghana to the AU are conflict prevention and mediation initiatives, post-conflict reconstruction and development, agricultural development and food security (e.g., implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), and democracy and governance through AU election observation missions.

Activity 6.3 Ghana- AU Relations

1. Read a short overview of the African Union (AU), focusing on its aims and purpose.

2. Write a paragraph in your own words that summarises the history and development of the AU from its beginnings in 1963 to the present.

3. Your teacher may ask you to present your summary to the class. To learn more, visit: https://au.int/en/overview

Since gaining independence in 1957, Ghana has always supported the United Nations (UN). Ghana believes the UN is important for countries to work together and solve global problems. Being the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to become independent, Ghana has shown a strong commitment to the UN’s goals.

Global Peace and Leadership

Ghana has used the United Nations to support African freedom and protect small countries. It has been a member of the UN Security Council several times, helping to make important decisions about world peace and security. Ghana worked on solving conflicts peacefully and dealt with global issues like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.

Ghana’s UN role reached its peak with Kofi Annan, who served as UN Secretary-General (1997–2006). Annan modernised the UN, strengthened peacekeeping, promoted human rights and good governance, and introduced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which laid the foundation for today’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Peacekeeping Operations Ghana’s UN engagement is strongly rooted in the principle of collective security, demonstrated through its consistent support for UN peacekeeping missions. Since 1960, Ghana has contributed over 100,000 peacekeepers, making it one of the top troop- contributing countries globally. Ghanaian forces have served in missions in Lebanon, Cyprus, and during crises such as the Rwanda genocide. Ghana’s peacekeeping policy emphasises a comprehensive approach, combining conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and development strategies to ensure lasting stability in conflict-affected regions.

Health and Human Development

Ghana works closely with UN health groups like the World Health Organisation (WHO) to improve health systems worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana asked for fair vaccine access for all countries and was praised for how it handled the crisis. Ghana also supports UN education programmes through UNESCO, helping to promote good education and skills development for people’s growth.

Development and Economic Growth

Ghana supports the UN’s goals to improve development and reduce poverty, like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It uses the UN to learn and share ideas for fair and lasting growth. Ghana has received financial help and advice from UN-related groups like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to improve its economy. For example, programmes in the 1990s under Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) and the 2000s (HIPC Initiative) helped reduce Ghana’s debt and supported its development.

Climate Change and Environmental Cooperation

Ghana cares a lot about climate change and works with the UN to find solutions. It supports important agreements like the Paris Agreement (COP 21) and asks for stronger action to reduce pollution. Ghana also asks for more help, like money and technology, to protect itself and other developing countries from the effects of climate change.

Activity 6.4 Ghana-UN relations

1. Explore the meaning of the image on the United Nations flag below and complete these activities.

a. What are some symbols that you can identify?

b. What do those symbols mean?

c. What is the UN motto and what does it mean?

4. Share your responses with your classmates and compare them with your own.