President John Mahama has issued a passionate appeal for the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, urging the warring parties, the United States, Israel, and Iran, to return to dialogue as the escalating conflict threatens to inflict economic pain on African nations.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the State House in Arusha on March 2, 2026, Mahama expressed deep concern over the intensifying military exchanges and counter-attacks rocking the Gulf region.

He warned that continued fighting would have dire consequences for Africa, which remains heavily dependent on the Middle East for its oil supplies.

"We call for the cessation of the conflict and the return to dialogue so that we can see peace come back to that region," Mahama stated.

He described the Middle East as the "epicentre of global oil supplies" and cautioned that African economies must prepare for inevitable shocks as crude prices soar.

Recent attacks and retaliatory strikes have already pushed global crude prices past $91 per barrel, a spike that directly impacts net importing nations like Ghana.

President Mahama warned that when crude prices rise beyond a certain threshold, the negative effects ripple through African economies, inflating transportation costs, increasing prices of goods, and squeezing household budgets.

"We know that these shocks will come, but when they come, we must prepare ourselves to make sure that our people are protected," he said.

The President's call for dialogue reflects growing anxiety among African leaders who find themselves caught in the crossfire of a geopolitical crisis not of their making.

He urged the international community to prioritise peaceful resolution of the conflict, warning that prolonged hostilities could derail economic gains and plunge millions into hardship.

"And we know when the prices of crude go above a certain amount, it has a negative effect on our country," Mahama added, reinforcing the urgent need for peace in the region.

The appeal comes as global attention remains fixed on the Middle East, where tensions continue to escalate with no immediate end in sight.