Minister Đurić in Ghana: Traditional friends and future allies

Minister Đurić highlighted the longstanding friendship between the two nations, dating back to the era of Presidents Kwame Nkrumah and Josip Broz Tito, a legacy that continues today and is being further advanced through the visions of Presidents Aleksandar Vučić and Nana Akufo-Addo.

He stressed that both countries possess significant economic potential and are indeed “nations of the future.” In particular, he praised Ghana’s efforts toward economic development, including its initiative to establish a “24-hour economy,” which he believes will accelerate growth and provide opportunities for deeper ties between Serbian and Ghanaian companies. “We see Ghana as a key regional partner—our traditional friend—with a forward-looking approach to future cooperation,” Minister Đurić underscored.

In his remarks, Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa warmly welcomed Minister Đurić and noted that the visit of Serbia’s top diplomat marked an important milestone in bilateral relations, demonstrating both countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation and strengthening their partnership. He recalled the enduring ties between Ghana and Serbia, forged during the era of the former Yugoslavia when Nkrumah and Tito played pivotal roles in founding the Non-Aligned Movement.

“We discussed the need to broaden our relations both bilaterally and multilaterally. On the bilateral front, we recognized significant potential to increase trade and economic cooperation, and we encouraged the private sectors in both countries to explore collaboration across various domains,” said Minister Ablakwa. He also emphasized Ghana’s firm commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and discussed possibilities for enhancing cooperation in multilateral forums.

Minister Đurić expressed deep appreciation for Ghana’s consistent support of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, emphasizing the principled stance Ghana maintains on this matter.

He went on to affirm that Serbia pursues an independent foreign and domestic policy with a clear focus on economic development. He informed his counterpart about the foundations of Serbia’s balanced foreign policy and referred to Serbia’s historical positioning as a country that fosters friendships with all and enmity with none.

“Serbia is the West in the East and the East in the West—this is deeply woven into the DNA of our foreign policy,” Minister Đurić said, invoking the words of Saint Sava, and added that Serbia aspires to serve as one of Ghana’s key gateways to Europe.

He proudly noted that Serbia continues to honor its anti-colonial and non-aligned legacy and contributes actively to shaping global policy today—particularly through its current chairmanship of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. He extended an invitation to African countries to join Serbia in shaping the future of this transformative technology.

Minister Ablakwa expressed Ghana’s interest in enhancing cooperation with Serbia in the field of artificial intelligence and conveyed special gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Serbia for offering scholarships to Ghanaian students under the "World in Serbia" program.

Minister Đurić announced plans to strengthen cooperation in the defense industry, especially in the development of technologies aimed at addressing maritime security threats such as smuggling and other related risks. He also outlined future partnerships in agricultural biotechnology between specialized institutes from both countries.

He emphasized the importance of closer people-to-people ties, especially in the face of demographic challenges, including enhanced labor mobility between Serbia and Ghana. He announced an expansion of the scholarship program for Ghanaian students in Serbia, with an additional 30 scholarships to be awarded this year, and expressed hope that Serbian students would likewise have the opportunity to study in Ghana and engage more deeply with the culture and potential of this West African country.

“We have been pleasantly surprised by how many similarities we share—some of which we were unaware of until now. One thing is certain: we share not only common interests but also a genuine sense of affinity, both at the level of our governments and among our peoples,” Minister Đurić concluded in his address to numerous journalists in Accra, expressing great satisfaction that Ghana is the first country he has visited in this part of the world in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs.