Trade Minister charges diplomats to promote nation’s image, investment opportunities
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has charged Ghanaian envoys to use their duty tours abroad to aggressively promote Ghana’s image and investment opportunities.
She said ambassadors and high commissioners must “be intentional and promote Ghana as a brand” by showcasing the country’s culture, products, services and business prospects during national day events and other diplomatic engagements.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare was addressing the maiden Orientation Conference for newly appointed envoys in Accra.
The five-day programme, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, also featured the launch of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to guide the work of envoys.
The conference was held under the theme: Harnessing the Dividends of Diplomacy for Ghana’s Reset Agenda.
It highlighted the increasing role of economic diplomacy in driving Ghana’s development goals.
“Now President Mahama is interested in economic diplomacy,” the minister said, noting that the government’s reset agenda was anchored on strong international engagement.
Growth and reforms
Outlining Ghana’s investment appeal, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare cited political stability, consistent economic growth, abundant natural resources and ongoing reforms as major factors positioning the country as an attractive business destination.
She disclosed that the economy grew by 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 4.9 per cent in the same period of 2024.
This, she noted, represented the highest first-quarter growth since 2020.
The minister further highlighted flagship initiatives of her ministry aimed at stimulating growth and creating employment, including the Rapid Industrialisation for Jobs, Agro-Processing for Economic Expansion and Jobs, and the Feed the Industry Programme.
According to her, these interventions, together with an enabling business environment, made Ghana “open for business.”
Leveraging AfCFTA
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare also urged envoys to leverage Ghana’s strategic advantage as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra.
She pointed out that the country’s early participation in the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative demonstrated the nation’s commitment to intra-African trade and continental economic integration, echoing a vision once advanced by Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
“The AfCFTA represents the largest free trade area in the world, bringing together 55 African countries with a combined population of over 1.4 billion people and a GDP exceeding US$3.4 trillion,” she noted.
The minister stressed that by championing Ghana abroad, envoys would play a crucial role in attracting investment, boosting exports and advancing the government’s reset agenda.
