ACCRA, Ghana, CMC – President John Dramani Mahama, Wednesday, vowed to establish a closer relationship with the Caribbean, saying he regards the state visit of St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew as a “homecoming”.
“Your presence in Ghana is not merely an official visit. It is a homecoming. You and your delegation are warmly welcome back home. As the first Prime Minister of St. Christopher and Nevis to make an official visit to Ghana, you are charting a new and historic course in our bilateral relations.
“Though separated by the Atlantic Ocean, our nations remain united by history, ancestry, culture, and in our spirits. What geography once divided, history now compels us to bring back together,” President Mahama told a luncheon held in honour of Prime Minister Drew and his delegation.
He said that the “painful rapture” caused by the transatlantic slave trade severed fiscal ties between people of the Caribbean and Africa, but it did not erase our shared identity.
“The time has come to move beyond remembrance to reconstruction, to transform shared memories into shared purpose. The artificial, mental, and economic barriers that long separated Africa and the Caribbean must give way to bridges of trade, mobility, knowledge, exchange, and cultural renewal.”
President Mahama said in this regard, Ghana strongly supports the renewed momentum between the African Union and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to deepen structured engagement between the two regional blocs.
He said political solidarity must now be matched by economic integration and expanding the African Export-Import Bank, AFREXIM, into the Caribbean,” is a bold and strategic step towards unlocking trade, investment, and financial cooperation across the Atlantic.
“Our responsibility as leaders is to mobilise our people around a unifying vision, one that secures dignity, prosperity, and global respect for people of African descent everywhere in the world. We must build systems that empower our youth, expand opportunity, and ensure that our shared civilisation is defined not by its trauma, but by its successes.”
The Ghana Head of State said that later this month at the United Nations, his country will host a high-level special event on reparatory justice. (
“We believe that the trafficking and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans constitutes one of the gravest crimes against humanity. Our call is not for charity, it is for justice. It is a time for our narrative to be told by us, grounded in truth and anchored in accountability.
“Together, Africa and the Caribbean must speak with one voice, with clarity, unity, and moral conviction,” President Mahama said, noting that since he took up office in 2022, Prime Minister Drew has distinguished himself as a compassionate, people-centred leader.
“Your policy priorities, poverty alleviation, disaster response, health and wellness, education-based empowerment, and environmental sustainability align very closely with Ghana’s development trajectory. We follow closely the progress your administration has made, particularly in strengthening social protection systems and community resilience.
“Ghana stands ready to collaborate on areas of mutual benefit, sharing experiences and technical cooperation that support your national development agenda,” he said, adding that Ghana and St. Kitts and Nevis have agreed to extend their 2018 visa waiver agreement.
“This was previously applicable to holders of only diplomatic and service passports. Now this extension of the visa waiver includes holders of ordinary passports. This practical and transformative step will significantly facilitate tourism, trade, business exchanges, and people-to-people connections.
“We will also continue discussions on structured labour mobility arrangements. Ghana is prepared, where appropriate, to support St. Kitts and Nevis with skilled professionals, including nurses, teachers, and other technical experts, while ensuring mutually beneficial frameworks between our countries.”
He said the two countries have also identified key sectors for deeper cooperation, including tourism development, climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy, blue economy initiatives, and cultural industries. He said improved air connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean remains essential.
“However, we cannot delay progress until every structural constraint is resolved. Platforms such as the African-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum, ACTIV, and the African Continental Free Trade Area offer immediate pathways for us to expand trade and forge investment partnerships.
“Our ambition is clear, to position Ghana and St. Kitts and Nevis as model partners in South-South cooperation,” President Mahama said, noting that the twin-island Federation had last week successfully hosted the 50th regular meeting of CARICOM leaders.
“Ghana deeply appreciates the opportunity you offered us to address CARICOM leaders, though virtually. We value CARICOM’s principled stance on reparative justice and look forward to intensified collaboration on truth, reconciliation, and equitable global reforms.
“Ghana recognises the vulnerabilities faced by small island developing states, especially in the context of climate change, rising sea levels, food insecurity, and external economic shocks”.
He said that Ghana stands in solidarity with St. Kitts and Nevis in advocating for climate justice, equitable access to climate finance, and reform of global financial institutions to reflect the realities of developing nations.
President Mahama said he was pleased that Prime Minister Drew had agreed to extend his stay here to participate in Ghana’s 69th Independence Anniversary Celebration.
“Your presence at this milestone event, as our special guest, symbolises the unbroken thread connecting our liberation struggles, our contemporary quest, and our quest for economic emancipation.
“The political independence Ghana secured in 1957 sparked a continental awakening. Today, the next frontier is economic sovereignty, building productive economies, strengthening intra-African and Afro-Caribbean trade, and asserting our rightful place in global governance.”
President Mahama said he remains hopeful that “this visit further strengthen not only our diplomatic relations, but also the emotional and ancestral bonds that unite our people.”
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