President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, has lauded the leadership of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, describing his administration as being off to a “strong start” despite the economic challenges it inherited.

The endorsement came during President Mahama’s three-day state visit to Singapore, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, trade, and investment partnerships between the two nations.

Ghana–Singapore Partnership Strengthens

At a joint briefing, both leaders reaffirmed the ancestral and historical ties between Ghana and Singapore and committed to deepening cooperation in multiple sectors, including:

• Trade and investment
• Education and science
• Urban planning and infrastructure
• Agribusiness and food security
• Digital economy and innovation

President Shanmugaratnam emphasized Singapore’s readiness to support Ghana’s recovery, stating:

“We’ve always viewed Ghana as a key player not just in West Africa but in Africa as a whole. I know you inherited a very difficult set of challenges, but you are off to a very strong start in addressing the situation, and we are gaining confidence in Ghana. Singapore, through our government agencies and companies, will do whatever is useful to support you in your efforts.”

Mahama: Singapore is a Role Model for Ghana

In his response, President Mahama expressed gratitude for the state visit invitation and praised Singapore as a model of economic transformation that Ghana can learn from.

“Thank you for your kind invitation to undertake this state visit. It is very important to us because, as you said, our values are shared. We have had historical ties since the period of our first presidents, and we view Singapore as a role model in our journey to create prosperity for our people.”

Key Highlights of Mahama’s State Visit

• Bilateral talks with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
• Keynote address at the 8th Africa–Singapore Business Forum (ASBF).
• Ghana–Singapore Investment and Business Forum, where leaders from both public and private sectors explored new opportunities for collaboration.

President Mahama’s visit underscores Ghana’s ambition to diversify its economic partnerships by looking to Asia, with Singapore positioned as a strategic partner for trade, investment, and innovation.