‎"Friends to All, Enemies to None": What Mahama Told the World's Investors ‎

Ghana's president has restated one of the oldest ideas in the country's foreign policy: Ghana picks no side in the rivalry between great powers.

Speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit, President John Dramani Mahama urged investors worldwide to consider Ghana, saying the country is open to partnerships with all nations regardless of their political or economic affiliations. His summary of the policy was blunt: "We are friends to all and enemies to none."

He tied that line to non-alignment and to money. He said the policy continues to guide Ghana's international relations, allowing friendly ties with different countries while pursuing investment that promotes growth and mutual benefit. The condition, he said, is fair returns for everyone, Ghana included, and he named America, the EU, China and Russia as partners Ghana is equally friendly to.

He made clear that this does not mean being neutral on security. He said Ghana cooperates with the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the United States on security, including intelligence-sharing and joint training. On Russia's military role in the Sahel, he said countries in the region should be able to accept help from any partner willing to fight terrorism.

Mahama also said he would take the same approach to diplomacy. He said he will try to persuade President Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine when he travels to the Russia-Africa Summit. That summit opens in Moscow on 28 October. The message gives Ghana a role as a friend to both Moscow and Kyiv's Western backers.

The remarks also fit his argument about aid. He said Ghana loses about $154 million a year after the withdrawal of USAID support, including roughly $74 million for health programmes such as HIV treatment, and he urged African states to build domestic financing and industry. Wide-open investment, in his reading, is part of that shift from aid to trade.

Non-alignment has a long pedigree in Ghana and is popular, but it is hard to practice. When Ghana trains with Western partners and welcomes Russian-backed security help in the Sahel at the same time, the test is whether each partner accepts that balance. The ceasefire mission in Moscow will show whether "friends to all" can carry real diplomatic weight.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880

Sources
"Mahama urges global investors to consider Ghana, says country is 'friend to all,'" MyJoyOnline, 22 Oct 2026. https://www.myjoyonline.com/mahama-urges-global-investors-to-consider-ghana-says-country-is-friend-to-all/

"'We are friends to all and enemies to none' – Mahama courts global investors," Pulse Ghana, 22 Oct 2026. https://www.pulse.com.gh/story/we-are-friends-to-all-and-enemies-to-none-mahama-courts-global-investors-2026102216225948884

"Ghana prioritizes investment over global power rivalry – Mahama," Citi Newsroom, 22 Oct 2026. https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/10/ghana-prioritises-investment-over-global-power-rivalry-mahama/

"President Mahama: 'I'll try to convince President Putin to have a ceasefire,'" Graphic Online, 22 Oct 2026. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/president-mahama-ill-try-to-convince-president-putin-to-have-a-ceasefire.html

"Mahama to press Putin on Ukraine ceasefire," Africa Briefing. https://africabriefing.com/mahama-to-press-putin-on-ukraine-ceasefire/

"President Mahama calls for Global South to break aid dependency," GBC Ghana, 21 Oct 2026. https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/president-mahama-calls-for-global-south-to-break-aid-dependency-boost-local-production/2026/