President John Dramani Mahama has described the introduction of visa-free travel between Ghana and Zambia as a significant step toward deepening relations and strengthening people-to-people connections between the two countries.

Speaking at a state banquet hosted in his honour by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka, President Mahama said the agreement reflects the growing trust and cooperation between both nations.

“These are more than diplomatic instruments. They are statements of trust that say to our people: you belong with one another,” he noted.

The President thanked the Zambian government and citizens for their hospitality toward Ghanaians living in the country and pointed to the strong social ties, including intermarriages, that continue to bind the two nations.

“I wish to thank all Zambians for accepting our compatriots here and treating them just like your own,” he said, adding that “there is no better way of bringing people together than the bonds of family.”

Beyond the visa arrangement, President Mahama said discussions with President Hichilema also focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding economic partnerships, particularly as both countries share similar development challenges and rely heavily on mining.

He added that the visit honours the Pan-African legacy of Ghana’s Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Zambia’s Dr Kenneth Kaunda, expressing confidence that closer collaboration will continue to guide both countries forward.