President John Mahama underscored the importance of Nigeria’s stability to Ghana’s development, saying the fortunes of both countries are closely linked.
Speaking at the African Heritage Awards 2026, Mahama said Ghana has a strong interest in Nigeria’s success, particularly given its population size and influence within West Africa.
“Nigeria is of keen security interest to us. If Nigeria does well, Ghana does well,” he said.
Mahama noted that with Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million, instability there could have ripple effects across the sub-region, including migration pressures on neighboring countries like Ghana.
“When you have cousins, 250 million you want them to do well so that one million of them don’t come drifting towards a small country like Ghana,” he said.
The president added that he consistently prays for Nigeria’s progress, stressing the need for the country to address its internal challenges.
“Every day I wake up, I pray for Nigeria. I say, God, let Nigeria get their acts together,” Mahama added.
Beyond security and economic concerns, Mahama pointed to the deep historical and cultural ties between Ghana and Nigeria, noting that many ethnic groups in Ghana trace their origins to regions within Nigeria, including the Yoruba kingdom.
