Accra: Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, has called upon Ghanaian ambassadors and high commissioners to actively promote Ghana during their diplomatic tours. She emphasized the importance of showcasing Ghana through national days and well-designed programs that highlight the country's culture, products, services, and investment opportunities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the minister made these remarks at the inaugural Orientation Conference for new envoys in Accra. The event also marked the launch of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Ghanaian envoys. The five-day conference, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, was themed 'Harnessing the Dividends of Diplomacy for Ghana's Reset Agenda.'
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare highlighted the significant role of economic diplomacy in achieving Ghana's development objectives. She encouraged diplomatic staff to collaborate and exchange ideas on best practices and innovations to market Ghana as a viable investment destination. She noted that President Mahama is particularly interested in economic diplomacy.
The minister underscored Ghana's appeal as an investment hub, describing it as one of Africa's most promising destinations in 2025. Ghana's attractiveness is attributed to its political stability, robust economic growth, abundant natural resources, and proactive government reforms, all driven by the President's vision of resetting Ghana.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare reported notable economic progress, with Ghana's economy expanding by 5.3 per cent compared to 4.9 per cent in the same period of 2024. This marks the highest first-quarter growth since 2020. She outlined several initiatives by the Ministry aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation, such as Rapid Industrialization for Jobs, Agro-Processing for Economic Expansion and Jobs, and the Feed the Industry Programme. She emphasized that the Ministry is well-positioned to facilitate trade at all levels and that Ghana is open for business.
The minister also urged the envoys to leverage Ghana's strategic position as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra. She highlighted Ghana's commitment to increasing intra-African trade and economic liberation, as championed by the country's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Ghana is among the first eight countries to commence trading under the Guided Trade Initiative facilitated by the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The AfCFTA represents the largest free trade area in the world by the number of participating countries, bringing together 55 African nations with a combined population of over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding USD 3.4 trillion.