President John Dramani Mahama has joined other African heads of state and government in Moscow for the third Russia-Africa Summit, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Arrival and programme
Mahama arrived Monday from Ethiopia, according to a statement from the Presidency in Accra. He was received at the airport by Ghana’s ambassador to Russia, Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah, embassy staff and Russian government officials.
He is scheduled to attend the plenary sessions and the Economic and Humanitarian Forum, hold a bilateral meeting with Putin, meet Russian businesses and state institutions, and visit a kente exhibition organized by the Russia-Ghana Parliamentary Forum. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the Putin meeting would be private and cover bilateral cooperation and global security.
Ghanaian television reported that Mahama shook hands with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday as the summit opened. Details of any talks or agreements had not been released.
Speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London on Oct. 21, Mahama said he would use the Moscow trip to try to persuade Putin to agree to a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, linking an end to hostilities to global economic stability and food security across Africa.
He has said Ghana’s policy of non-alignment lets it keep dialogue open with the United States, the European Union, China and Russia.
Honors, business and the economic agenda
Two Russian institutions, the Russian University of Transport and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, are set to confer honorary doctorates on Mahama at separate ceremonies in recognition of his leadership and public service.
Mahama’s participation is expected to focus on investment in agribusiness, energy security and digital technology. Ghana and Russia signed a memorandum in July to promote investment and trade, and talks have begun on energy projects and geological exploration, according to Nova Agency.
The summit, running Oct. 28 and 29 and co-chaired by Putin and African Union chairman Évariste Ndayishimiye, the president of Burundi, was expected to adopt a final declaration, a 2027-2029 action plan, a declaration on civilian use of artificial intelligence and a package of intergovernmental agreements.
More than 30 African heads of state were expected. Only 17 attended the 2023 summit in Saint Petersburg, down from 43 in Sochi in 2019, so turnout is being read as a measure of Moscow’s pull on the continent.
Scrutiny of the Russia ties
Observers say the test for Ghana is whether the visit produces concrete investment and whether it can be squared with Accra’s balanced foreign policy and ties with Western partners. Engagement with Russia carries risks given international tensions and sanctions affecting Moscow.
The summit comes as African governments voice concern over Russian recruitment of their citizens. Kenya and Ghana have appealed to the Kremlin to stop recruiting their nationals, Bloomberg reported, while the Kremlin says Russia has enough military personnel.
