Mahama’s Zambia visit scoops Fintech contracts worth over GHC50m

President John Dramani Mahama’s state visit to Zambia has yielded fintech contracts worth over GHC50 million, alongside a raft of trade, mobility, and defence agreements under a new Comprehensive Partnership.

The details were disclosed in a post on X on Tuesday by Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who outlined the outcomes of the visit and the agreements reached between Ghana and Zambia.

According to Mr Ablakwa, a major highlight of the engagement was fintech contracts for Ghanaian and Zambian companies valued at more than $50 million in the short term, with the potential to create about 8,000 jobs. He described the deals as a practical demonstration of how South–South cooperation can translate into jobs and business growth.

“Fintech contracts for Ghanaian and Zambian companies worth over $50 million in the short term are expected to create some 8,000 jobs,” the Foreign Minister wrote.

The agreements also include a pan-African visa-free travel arrangement allowing nationals of both countries to stay up to 30 days without visas. Mr Ablakwa said the decision would deepen people-to-people ties and ease business travel between Accra and Lusaka.

Beyond fintech, the two countries signed natural resource cooperation agreements aimed at maximising value addition while promoting environmentally friendly practices. Defence cooperation was also agreed to, with Mr Ablakwa noting that it would “create additional frontiers for the armed forces of both nations.”

As part of technical cooperation, Ghana will support Zambia in establishing a Minerals Commission and a Goldbod, while Zambia will provide Ghana with technical assistance in solar energy regulation and scientifically improved seedling production.

Trade facilitation featured prominently in the talks, with both sides agreeing to establish new trade corridors to position Ghana and Zambia as hubs for West and Southern African markets. There was also an agreement to standardise product certification to ease cross-border trade.

A Bilateral Air Services Agreement was signed to enhance aviation cooperation and pave the way for direct flights between the two countries. Mr Ablakwa said the move would boost tourism, trade and investment flows.

President Mahama travelled to Zambia last weekend with his wife, First Lady Lordina Mahama, in what officials described as a statement visit.

The trip attracted widespread attention on social media after a Zambian user mocked the President’s traditional smock, locally known as fugu, describing it as a blouse.

The comment triggered a backlash from Ghanaians online and unexpectedly propelled the outfit into the spotlight.

Speaking later in a television interview, President Mahama said the controversy had turned into free global marketing for local artisans.

“The smock weavers in Ghana will be very happy because by the power of social media, we have given them branding and marketing they couldn’t ever have dreamed of,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa added that the cultural interest has translated into concrete opportunities, announcing that Ghana will host a Fugu and Kente Trade Exhibition in Zambia next month following “tremendous and phenomenal interest” from Zambians, including President Hakainde Hichilema’s expressed desire to place orders.

From the historic Nkrumah–Kaunda friendship to modern fintech and trade deals, Ghana–Zambia relations appear to be entering a more expansive and commercially driven phase.