Ghana/Eswatini: South-South cooperation rooted in African unity
The recent official visit of King Mswati III of Eswatini to Accra marks a significant diplomatic milestone for Ghana, reaffirming its role as a driving force of Pan-Africanism. Welcomed with great ceremony by President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the Eswatini monarch has embarked on a series of bilateral exchanges built around a clear ambition: to give new momentum to South-South relations by capitalizing on economic, educational, and cultural drivers.
The signing of a memorandum of understanding establishing a Permanent Joint Cooperation Commission lays the groundwork for a lasting partnership. This mechanism will allow for the strategic monitoring of commitments, particularly in trade and governance, while encouraging the flow of knowledge and goods between the two states. In a context where Africa is seeking to strengthen its endogenous capacities, this initiative is part of a broader effort to consolidate intra-African exchanges.
President Mahama made a point of emphasizing the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), of which Ghana is a strong advocate. The prospect of fully integrating Eswatini into this framework through enhanced cooperation could catalyze regional economic opportunities while supporting SMEs and local cultural initiatives.
The cultural dimension, highlighted by King Mswati III’s planned visit to the Kingdom of Asante, further strengthens the symbolic value of this alliance. The meeting between traditional authorities, outside conventional state frameworks, demonstrates that African integration also depends on the revitalization of ancestral institutions.
