Ghana & Pennsylvania Forge Agricultural Investment & Market Expansion

Ghana has opened new avenues for agricultural investment and market expansion following high-level talks with officials from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, together with the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Dr. Peter Boamah Otukunor, met Pennsylvania’s Senior Managing Director for International Trade and Investment, David Briel, at Philadelphia City Hall to explore opportunities for deeper cooperation in the agricultural sector. The engagement forms part of Ghana’s broader economic diplomacy efforts to position the country as a regional hub for agricultural production and agribusiness, with access to the wider African market. Ambassador Smith highlighted Ghana’s strategic advantages, saying: “Ghana’s location, stable investment climate, and growing consumer market make it an ideal gateway for American agribusinesses seeking expansion into Africa.” He added that Ghana is particularly open to collaboration in sectors where Pennsylvania has established expertise, including dairy, vanilla, and related value-added products. David Briel emphasized the mutual benefits of such partnerships, noting, “We are exploring ways for Pennsylvania businesses to support Ghana’s food security and agro-industrial development while scaling our operations and reaching new markets across the continent.” Food technology featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides examining opportunities in modern farming systems, agro-processing, storage, cold-chain logistics, and processing technologies. These innovations were identified as critical to boosting productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and enhancing the competitiveness of Ghana’s agricultural exports. Dr. Otokunor stressed the government’s commitment to the sector, saying, “Agriculture and agribusiness are key pillars of our national development. We are implementing policies to attract investment, encourage technology transfer, and create sustainable jobs, particularly for young people.” Ambassador Smith reiterated Ghana’s openness to long-term partnerships, adding, “We welcome collaborations that go beyond trade to include knowledge sharing, innovation, and value creation. Working with Pennsylvania presents a strong opportunity to align expertise, markets, and development goals.”