By Djinodji SOLMENGAR Rodrigue
Ghana and Chad want to turn their longstanding diplomatic relations into practical cooperation in trade, energy and livestock production. Ghana’s new ambassador to Chad, Kenneth Akibate, says both countries can benefit from their complementary economic strengths.
Akibate spoke after presenting his letters of credence to President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno at the Toumaï Palace in N’Djamena on October 20, 2026.
“Today marks a very important milestone in our relationship between Chad and Ghana,” the ambassador said.
He said both countries now needed to move beyond cordial relations and focus on concrete results.
“Our focus this time is to see how we can translate the excellent relationship that we have between our two peoples into concrete actions,” Akibate said.
He added that both President Mahamat Deby and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama shared this objective.
Economic cooperation
Akibate identified oil and gas as one area where the two countries could exchange expertise. Ghana has an established petroleum sector, while Chad also produces oil.
He also pointed to opportunities in livestock and meat production. Chad has significant livestock resources, while Ghana faces a shortfall in domestic meat production.
“Chad produces a lot of livestock. Ghana has a deficit in meat production. It can depend on Chad,” he said.
The ambassador said both countries could use their respective strengths to expand cooperation and deliver economic benefits to their populations.
A framework for cooperation
Akibate also called for a structured framework to guide bilateral engagement. Such an arrangement, he said, would identify priority areas and help both governments turn shared ambitions into measurable results.
He featured the links between the two populations, including Chadian students in Ghana, as another reason to strengthen cooperation.
“We are looking at building upon the foundation that we have so that significantly our people will feel the relationship,” he said.
The ambassador said closer cooperation could improve access to goods and services and contribute to broader African development.
His remarks underline a shared objective: to turn the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Chad into practical partnerships that benefit both countries.