The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare (MP), has held discussions with the outgoing Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Ghana, Mr. Rolf Olson, on strengthening bilateral trade relations and expanding investment opportunities between the two countries.
The farewell meeting, which also introduced his successor, Mr. Faris Y. Asad, provided an opportunity to discuss Ghana’s priorities under the extended African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), particularly in the garment sector.
The Minister welcomed the extension of AGOA, describing it as an opportunity for Ghana to maximise its benefits. She disclosed that the Ministry was preparing to establish three garment factories next year, alongside priority programmes in pharmaceuticals, component manufacturing and agribusiness, with a focus on value addition and job creation.
Mr. Olson, in turn, highlighted areas of concern regarding Ghana’s AGOA eligibility, including access for US companies, government procurement processes and trade barriers. He proposed continued engagement through a working group to address these issues and identify areas where the US could provide technical assistance and capacity-building support.
Mr. Olson, who is concluding his assignment in Ghana, expressed appreciation for the cooperation received during his tenure and reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement between the two countries.
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