Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed the deep historical, political and economic ties between Zambia and Ghana, describing the relationship as one anchored not only in shared Pan-African ideals but also in strong people-to-people bonds.

Speaking at a state banquet held in honour of President John Dramani Mahama, President Hichilema thanked his Ghanaian counterpart for accepting Zambia’s invitation and said both leaders were determined to prioritise economic cooperation over excessive protocol.

“Politics brought us into office, but the importance of working on the economic side of our partnership is very, very important,” President Hichilema said.

He traced the roots of the Ghana–Zambia relationship to the vision of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, noting that both leaders played key roles in shaping Pan-Africanism and the foundations of today’s African Union.

President Hichilema also highlighted the close social ties between the two countries. “There is something special about how Ghanaians and Zambians connect. We have many intermarriages. This is not just government-to-government; it is people-to-people, family-to-family,” he said.

On economic cooperation, the Zambian leader said bilateral talks focused on translating historic friendship into trade, investment and shared growth. “Without a strong economic relationship, our friendship cannot be sustainably supported,” he stressed.

He noted similarities in the economic reform paths of both countries, particularly in debt restructuring and recovery. “As my brother spoke, I felt he was singing from our own hymn sheet. Our experiences are remarkably similar,” President Hichilema remarked.

President Hichilema commended Ghana for hosting the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a major continental achievement. “Africa trades the least with itself, and that is unacceptable. We must stop complaining and take leadership,” he said, adding that Zambia fully supports Ghana’s role in advancing intra-African trade.

He also welcomed cooperation with Ghana in the mining sector, particularly in gold, saying Zambia could learn from Ghana’s long experience in managing both large-scale and artisanal mining.

Describing the bilateral engagements as highly productive, President Hichilema said, “It is so easy to work with the Ghanaians. It feels like we work together every other day.”

He praised President Mahama’s address to the Zambian Parliament earlier in the day and applauded Zambia’s democratic culture of bipartisan engagement.

President Hichilema concluded by proposing a toast to President Mahama, his family and the people of Ghana. “If the people of Ghana are better, the people of Zambia will be in a good space, and vice versa,” he said, raising a toast to “the lasting friendship between Ghana and Zambia.”