Singapore’s Tharman lauds Mahama’s leadership

Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has praised Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership in tackling economic challenges and prioritising job creation.

A statement from the Ghanaian Presidency said the commendation came during bilateral talks between the two leaders in Singapore as part of President Mahama’s three-day state visit.

“Ghana must succeed for West Africa and Africa to succeed,” President Tharman said, lauding President Mahama’s approach to resolving Ghana’s debt situation and recognising his government’s focus on addressing unemployment.

President Tharman noted that President Mahama’s remarks at the Africa Singapore Business Forum highlighted the strength of relations between the two nations and reflected a shared commitment to sustainable development as a pathway to long-term prosperity.

He also pointed to an important milestone in environmental cooperation, revealing that Singapore was the first Asian country to sign an implementation agreement on carbon credits with Ghana, making Ghana the first African nation to reach such an agreement with Singapore.

President Tharman further expressed optimism about deepening bilateral ties and highlighted priority areas for collaboration, including agribusiness, value addition to cocoa and cashew, fintech, cross-border payment systems, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

“We are ready and glad to pursue these opportunities together,” he said, underscoring Singapore’s interest in working closely with Ghana to harness investment, technology, and skills for inclusive growth.

President Mahama is expected to deliver an address at a Presidential Business Forum on the final day of his visit, where he will engage Singaporean investors and business leaders on Ghana’s economic prospects.

President Mahama’s visit aims to strengthen Ghana’s economic diplomacy and attract new investment partnerships. His government continues to focus on fiscal stability, job creation, and sustainable development to position Ghana as a key driver of West Africa’s growth agenda.