By Africa Live News Staff
In a major diplomatic shift, Ghana has officially withdrawn its longstanding support for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and announced its endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. The announcement came on Thursday following a high-level meeting between Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
The decision ends over four decades of Ghanaian support for the independence-seeking Polisario Front, which declared the establishment of the SADR in 1976. Ghana first recognised the SADR in 1979 and had since maintained support for the self-proclaimed republic. However, the Ghanaian government now says it sees Morocco’s proposal as the “credible and pragmatic” path toward lasting peace and stability in the disputed region.
A Strategic Diplomatic Reorientation
“The Republic of Ghana has decided to withdraw its recognition of the so-called Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,” a statement released by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs read. “Ghana considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented in 2007, as the credible and serious proposal for resolving the dispute.”
The Moroccan autonomy plan offers the territory of Western Sahara a degree of self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty—similar to the status of autonomous regions in Spain, such as Catalonia and the Basque Country. While Morocco controls approximately 70% of the territory, including major cities like Laayoune and Dakhla, the Polisario Front maintains control over the remaining 30%, with backing from Algeria.
Speaking after the bilateral meeting in Rabat, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey stated, “Ghana believes that the autonomy plan put forward by Morocco offers a realistic and constructive basis for resolving the long-standing conflict in Western Sahara. Our position is guided by a commitment to regional peace, African unity, and practical diplomacy.”
Western Sahara: A Complex and Unresolved Conflict
The Western Sahara conflict has been one of Africa’s most protracted territorial disputes. It began in 1975 following Spain’s withdrawal from the region, then a colonial possession. The Polisario Front, a liberation movement representing the Sahrawi people, initially fought Spanish forces before launching a protracted war against Morocco and Mauritania, the two countries that moved to annex the territory.
Mauritania eventually withdrew its claims in 1979, but Morocco has maintained its presence in the region. The conflict led to the establishment of the SADR by the Polisario Front, but the entity has failed to gain consistent or widespread recognition. Although as many as 80 countries had recognized the SADR at different times, a significant number have since reversed or frozen their recognition—Ghana now among them.
The United Nations still considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory and has yet to broker a political solution, despite years of negotiations and diplomatic efforts.
Rabat Welcomes Ghana’s Support
The Moroccan government has lauded Ghana’s announcement as a victory for diplomacy and a step toward African consensus on the matter. In a press briefing following the meeting, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita expressed appreciation for Ghana’s decision and called it “an affirmation of support for a solution that ensures stability and unity in the region.”
“Ghana’s decision is another strong signal that Africa is increasingly aligning behind Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the only viable path forward,” Bourita stated.
The Moroccan official also noted that the number of countries withdrawing support for the SADR is growing steadily, reflecting what he described as the “changing tide” in international perspectives on the issue.
Algeria and Polisario Unlikely to Relent
Despite Morocco’s growing diplomatic gains, the Polisario Front and its principal backer, Algeria, remain adamantly opposed to Rabat’s autonomy proposal. The Polisario continues to demand a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people—a position upheld by several UN Security Council resolutions but never implemented due to disputes over voter eligibility and political conditions.
Algeria has not yet officially responded to Ghana’s decision, but observers expect that the announcement may heighten existing tensions between Morocco and Algeria, whose diplomatic relations were already severed in 2021.
In a statement posted on social media, a Polisario representative condemned Ghana’s move, calling it “a betrayal of African solidarity and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.”
Implications for African Diplomacy
Ghana’s diplomatic pivot reflects a broader trend on the continent, where more countries are aligning with Morocco’s proposal as a practical solution to the decades-old impasse. In recent years, nations such as Zambia, Lesotho, and Madagascar have also either frozen or rescinded their recognition of the SADR.
For Ghana, the move may also be motivated by economic and strategic interests. Rabat has in recent years intensified its investment and outreach across West Africa, forging trade, agriculture, and infrastructure partnerships with several ECOWAS states. Ghana’s decision to back Morocco’s stance may signal a desire to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in light of Morocco’s increasing influence in African economic blocs and institutions.
“Diplomacy must evolve with realities,” said Dr. Kwabena Asare, an international relations expert at the University of Ghana. “Ghana’s decision is not just a political gesture but also an attempt to realign itself with emerging geopolitical dynamics on the continent.”
What Comes Next?
With Ghana joining the list of nations backing Morocco’s autonomy plan, pressure may increase on other African Union members to re-evaluate their positions on the Western Sahara conflict. However, the AU remains divided on the issue, with the SADR still holding membership in the continental body.
Whether Ghana’s decision will prompt any significant shifts in AU policy or influence other countries remains to be seen. For now, it’s clear that the regional balance is slowly tipping in Morocco’s favour—at least diplomatically.
As the situation evolves, the fate of the Sahrawi people and the long-delayed referendum on their future remain unresolved. But for Morocco, Thursday’s announcement from Accra was undoubtedly a diplomatic victory.
