President Mahama Arrives in Cairo for Grand Egyptian Museum Opening

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Cairo ahead of the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), scheduled for Friday, November 1.

The historic event, taking place under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will be attended by world leaders, kings, and dignitaries from across the globe.

Overlooking the Giza Pyramids, the GEM is the world’s largest archaeological museum, showcasing over 5,000 years of Egyptian civilization. The $1 billion facility — two decades in the making — houses thousands of ancient artifacts, including 4,500 treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

President al-Sisi has described the museum as a “symbol of Egypt’s leadership in global culture.” Initially planned for a July launch, the opening was postponed due to regional tensions and is now regarded as one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year.

The project reflects strong cooperation between Egypt and Japan, with Japan providing ¥84.2 billion (approximately $800 million) in soft loans through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Japanese experts also trained hundreds of Egyptian professionals in artifact conservation and museum management.

The inauguration comes amid a revival of Egypt’s tourism industry, which recorded revenues of $14.4 billion for 2023–2024 and welcomed over 15 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025.

For Ghana, President Mahama’s participation highlights Africa’s growing presence in global cultural diplomacy. The President was accompanied by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Executive Secretary to the President; Lt. Col. Abdul-Wahab Issah, Aide-de-Camp; Stanislav Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations; and Ambassador Aikins Abrokwa, Director of State Protocol.

The Grand Egyptian Museum stands as a landmark of shared human heritage — uniting ancient history, modern innovation, and international collaboration.