President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed diplomacy as the most dependable anchor for global stability, arguing that in an era defined by fragmentation, extremism and strategic rivalry, sustained diplomatic engagement remains the surest safeguard against disorder.
Addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps at the Jubilee House on February 19, 2026, during the presentation of New Year greetings, the President situated Ghana’s foreign policy posture within the broader turbulence reshaping global relations.
“In a time of global uncertainty and rapid transformation, diplomacy remains our most reliable instrument for managing our differences, preventing conflict, and advancing our shared prosperity. Even amid terrorism, violent extremism and geopolitical tensions, diplomacy continues to offer the most credible pathway towards dialogue, restraint and collective action.”
His remarks come at a time when multilateralism faces strain from protracted conflicts, renewed power competition and growing security threats across regions.
President Mahama stressed that diplomacy must not be reduced to transactional negotiation but understood as a long-term architecture of trust, credibility and shared responsibility among nations. According to him, durable peace and prosperity are built not merely through agreements, but through sustained relationships anchored in mutual respect.
Reaffirming Ghana’s normative commitments, he noted that the country’s foreign policy continues to be guided by democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and inclusive, sustainable development, principles he described as indispensable to maintaining a just international order.
He extended warm wishes to the Heads of State who have accredited envoys to Ghana, acknowledging the cordial relations enjoyed in 2025 and expressing optimism for resilient partnerships in the year ahead.
In a significant diplomatic moment, President Mahama congratulated Ambassador Imane Ouaadil of the Kingdom of Morocco on her assumption of office as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, following the departure of the Lebanese Ambassador, Maher Kheir, in November 2025. The transition marks a new chapter in the Corps’ leadership at a time of expanding South–South cooperation.
On the domestic front, the President used the occasion to signal Ghana’s economic recovery trajectory. He cited renewed fiscal discipline and macroeconomic consolidation measures which, he said, have contributed to declining inflation, stabilisation of the national currency, and improvements in the trade balance.
He outlined flagship initiatives underpinning his administration’s growth strategy, including the Ghana Gold Board to formalise and optimise gold sector governance; the Big Push Infrastructure Agenda to accelerate strategic national projects; the 24-Hour Economy policy aimed at productivity expansion; and the Mahama Cares Programme designed to strengthen social protection.
In advancing Ghana’s external economic diplomacy, President Mahama disclosed that the country has signed labour mobility agreements with several partner states and secured visa waiver arrangements to deepen trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, a move analysts view as strengthening Ghana’s integration within regional and global value chains.
On the continental stage, he reaffirmed his commitment to leveraging his positions as African Union Champion for Gender and Development Issues, AU Financial Institutions, and Reparations to advance Pan-African priorities.
In a move likely to resonate within global justice debates, President Mahama announced Ghana’s intention to table a resolution at the United Nations seeking recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the greatest crime against humanity. He called on the international community to support the initiative, describing it as a moral imperative consistent with historical accountability and restorative justice.
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