In a significant move to strengthen trade between Ghana and the United Kingdom, Hon. Sampson Ahi, Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Trade Agribusiness & Industry, met with Mr. John Humphrey, the UK Trade Commissioner for Africa. The bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the UK-Ghana Investment forum held in Accra aimed at discussing key issues and opportunities for cooperation between the two nations.
During the meeting, Hon. Ahi outlined Ghana’s priority areas that require UK support and assistance. One of the main concerns was import restrictions, which Ghana hopes to address through strengthened trade relations with the UK. “We cherish our partnership with the UK and believe that with the right support, we can take our trade relations to the next level,” Hon. Ahi said.
A major highlight of the meeting was the review of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act. This review is expected to open up market access and facilitate trade between Ghana and the UK. According to Hon. Ahi, the revised Act will allow companies to operate in Ghana more easily, encouraging more UK businesses to invest in the country.
Mr. Humphrey expressed his enthusiasm for the potential partnership, noting that the UK is keen on supporting Ghana’s economic development. “We believe that Ghana has immense potential for growth, and we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our businesses to work together,” he said.
The meeting also touched on the importance of infrastructure development in promoting trade. Ghana recognizes the challenges posed by its current infrastructure and is determined to put in place the necessary facilities to support commerce. “We’re working hard to improve our infrastructure, which will not only benefit our trade with the UK but also boost our overall economy,” Hon. Ahi explained.
Agribusiness was another key area of focus during the meeting. Both parties agreed on its importance in adding value to raw materials, processing, marketing, and packaging. By supporting agribusiness, Ghana aims to enable farmers, Agripreneurs to earn better incomes from their produce and feed into the industrialization program of the government under the Feed the Industry Programme.
