The Ministerial Session of the Second Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) between the Republic of Ghana and the Kingdom of Morocco was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra on Tuesday, 21st July, 2026, under the co-chairmanship of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Nasser Bourita. The Ministerial Session followed the successful Technical Experts Meeting held in Rabat from 9th to 11th June, 2026, which reviewed the state of bilateral cooperation and prepared eleven (11) agreements for Ministerial consideration.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa described the visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to Ghana in 2017 as a defining moment that ushered in a new era of cooperation between the two countries. He noted that the agreements concluded during that historic visit had strengthened bilateral relations and expanded collaboration across the political, diplomatic, parliamentary and technical spheres. He stressed that Ghana and Morocco have since remained strategic partners committed to transforming political goodwill into practical outcomes that improve the lives of their peoples.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister underscored the importance of enhanced African cooperation at a time of increasing global economic uncertainty, noting that Morocco’s strategic position as a gateway to Europe and the Mediterranean, together with Ghana’s role as host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), presents enormous opportunities to deepen intra-African trade, strengthen regional value chains, attract investment and advance the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

He commended the steady progress in agricultural cooperation, particularly Morocco’s support through fertilizer donations and its partnership with the OCP Group, which has contributed significantly to improving agricultural productivity and food security in Ghana. He also acknowledged the growing contribution of Moroccan investments in sectors such as banking, construction, agriculture and retail, as well as Morocco’s continued scholarship support to Ghanaian students, which has enhanced educational exchanges and strengthened people-to-people relations between the two countries.

Hon. Ablakwa applauded the work of the technical experts from both countries for successfully reviving the PJCC after an eleven-year hiatus and finalising a broad package of seven cooperation agreements covering customs administration, higher education, vocational training, diplomatic training, scientific research, standards, mining and hydrocarbons.

Highlighting Ghana’s strategic priorities, Hon. Ablakwa disclosed that H.E. President John Dramani Mahama had directed that future Ghana-Morocco cooperation should place particular emphasis on renewable energy, especially solar energy development, citing the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project as a catalyst for regional integration and energy security; and pharmaceutical manufacturing and health sovereignty within the framework of the President’s Accra Agenda and his imminent leadership of the African Union. He expressed confidence that these priority areas would elevate the bilateral partnership to a new strategic level while contributing to Africa’s broader development agenda.

On his part, the Moroccan Foreign Minister, H.E. Nasser Bourita reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding friendship and strategic partnership with Ghana, describing the PJCC as a reflection of the shared vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President John Dramani Mahama to deepen bilateral cooperation and advance African-led development. He recalled the historic participation of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, in the 1961 Casablanca Conference alongside the late King Mohammed V, noting that the Pan-African ideals established during that period continue to inspire the collaboration between the two countries in promoting peace, regional integration and sustainable development across the continent.

The Moroccan Foreign Minister commended the constructive work undertaken by experts from both countries, and reaffirmed Morocco’s readiness to expand cooperation with Ghana in agriculture, food security, renewable energy, digital transformation, healthcare, investment promotion and private sector development, while encouraging stronger business-to-business partnerships capable of driving economic growth and job creation.

H.E. Bourita further emphasised the importance of pragmatic Pan-Africanism anchored in concrete projects rather than rhetoric. He welcomed Ghana’s active role in advancing continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project, describing the latter as not only an energy initiative but also a transformative development and integration project for West Africa. He also highlighted Morocco’s experience in renewable energy development and vaccine manufacturing, expressing his country’s readiness to share its expertise with Ghana as both countries work towards achieving energy resilience, pharmaceutical self-sufficiency and greater African ownership of strategic industries.

Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the decisions and agreements reached under the Second PJCC, stressing that the success would ultimately be measured by the tangible benefits delivered to citizens, businesses and institutions in both countries. They expressed confidence that the renewed partnership would deepen Ghana-Morocco relations, promote shared prosperity and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s integration, sustainable development and collective self-reliance.

The Ministerial Session ended with the signing of thirteen bilateral instruments covering customs administration, higher education, vocational training, diplomatic training, scientific research, standards, mining and hydrocarbons.