UK shifts from aid to trade with £225m boost for Ghana
The United Kingdom is charting a new course in its relationship with Ghana, moving from aid dependency to a partnership rooted in trade and investment, with a £225 million boost in growth opportunities.
UK Minister for International Development, Baroness Jenny Chapman, who visited Ghana this week, said the shift represents the UK’s “modernised approach to international development,” one that prioritises investment and sustainable growth.
Baroness Chapman revealed that a UK-supported tax partnership enabled Ghana to generate an additional £100 million in domestic revenue in 2024.
The funds have since been channelled into critical public services, including health and education.
In addition, the UK-Ghana growth partnership has raised over £125 million to support industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, creating more than 5,000 jobs.
“The UK-Ghana partnership is thriving, using innovation and expertise to create opportunities for both our countries. Ghana’s leaders have said they ultimately want a fair opportunity to trade rather than aid, and our relationship reflects this modern approach,” Baroness Chapman said.
During her three-day tour, the Minister visited Atlantic Life Sciences, where British expertise has advanced the production of essential medicines, including snake venom antiserum.
This initiative is part of 300 ongoing research collaborations between the two nations, strengthening healthcare delivery and global health security.
She also toured a garment factory backed by British International Investment, one of the largest in West Africa, which provides significant employment opportunities for women while exporting ethically produced apparel worldwide.
The visit further included stops at a UK co-funded school reintegrating children into Ghana’s education system, and a hospital supported through the Global Fund, which delivers vital treatment for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV.
In her meeting with President John Dramani Mahama, discussions centred on how to deepen trade and investment ties, streamline business opportunities, and foster greater collaboration between the private sector, government, and research institutions.
The trip concluded with a commemorative event celebrating Arthur Wharton, the Ghana-born footballer who became the world’s first black professional player.
Ahead of the 160th anniversary of his birth, Baroness Chapman joined the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in honouring Wharton’s legacy as a symbol of the enduring bonds between Ghana and the UK.
