President John Dramani Mahama has returned to Ghana after participating in the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, where he outlined plans to deepen economic, energy and technological cooperation between Ghana and Russia.

The summit, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was held from October 28 to 29. During the engagement, President Mahama announced that Ghana had initiated discussions with Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, on the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant.

He also highlighted the longstanding nuclear cooperation between the two countries, recalling that the Soviet Union provided Ghana with a research reactor in 1964.

Beyond the energy sector, President Mahama invited Russian enterprises to explore investment opportunities in Ghana’s cocoa, cashew, horticulture, mineral processing and fertiliser production industries.

He further proposed exploring the use of local currencies and digital payment systems to facilitate legitimate trade between the two countries and reduce dependence on traditional payment arrangements.

On technology development, he called for the establishment of a Russia-Africa Digital Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Programme to promote joint research and technology transfer between universities and businesses.

President Mahama also acknowledged Russia’s historical support for Africa during the anti-colonial struggle and the fight against apartheid. He cited his experience as a scholarship student in the former Soviet Union as a reflection of the longstanding relationship between the two peoples.

On international security, he called for the peaceful resolution of global conflicts and welcomed Russia’s willingness to resume trilateral talks on the Ukraine conflict. He also urged stronger international cooperation to combat terrorism in the Sahel region.

On the sidelines of the summit, the President attended a Kente cloth exhibition organised by the Russia-Ghana Parliamentary Forum, describing cultural symbols as historical narratives that could strengthen bilateral relations.

He also received honorary doctorates from the Russian University of Transport and Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), and welcomed a proposal by RUDN to establish a Russian-African studies programme.

President Mahama also met members of the Ghanaian community in Moscow, briefed them on developments in Ghana and responded to their questions before returning to Ghana on Saturday, October 31.