Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has received letters from seven new envoys, signaling renewed opportunities for trade, investment, and diplomatic cooperation with key global partners including the European Union, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Pakistan, Sudan, and Egypt.
The engagements, held in Accra, placed economic diplomacy and business cooperation at the forefront, with discussions spanning agriculture, energy, green technology, and industrial value addition. Ablakwa reiterated government’s focus on positioning Ghana as an attractive investment destination through modernization of the economy and strategic international partnerships.
Economic and Trade Opportunities
Talks with the Ambassador-designate of Denmark, Jakob Linulf, centered on agricultural cooperation, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Ablakwa noted Ghana’s plans to increase value addition in raw materials while Linulf proposed exploring a Green Strategic Partnership in the future.
With the UK’s High Commissioner-designate, Christian Stefan Rogg, Ablakwa pointed to ongoing reforms to attract foreign capital through economic diplomacy. Rogg praised Ghana’s regional security role and called for enhanced customs knowledge sharing to boost trade efficiency.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner-designate, Najeeb Durrani, stressed deepening economic ties, pointing to recent Pakistani business delegations exploring investment opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing. He disclosed that additional trade missions are expected in the coming months and emphasized Pakistan’s e-visa policy for Ghanaians, processed within 24 hours, to facilitate smoother business exchanges.
Sectoral Partnerships and Development Cooperation
The EU’s envoy, Rune Skinnebach, assured Ghana of continued investment in renewable energy and environmental sustainability, while Norway’s John Mikal Kvistad discussed capacity building in oil exploration, revenue management, and prospects for a broader Blue Economy partnership.
Egypt’s Ambassador-designate, Wael Fathy Ahmed, discussed cooperation under Ghana’s “Big Push Agenda” for infrastructure and industrial growth, proposing closer institutional collaboration through a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation.
On regional stability, Sudan’s envoy, Gariballa Khidir Ali, briefed Ablakwa on peace efforts in his country, reaffirming African-led solutions. Ablakwa assured Sudan of Ghana’s continued support through peacekeeping and diplomatic collaboration.
Moving Forward
The engagement stressed that Ghana’s economic diplomacy agenda remains central to its foreign policy, with trade and investment opportunities forming the backbone of discussions with all seven partners, with government committed to creating the right conditions for foreign businesses while advancing cooperation that drives mutual prosperity.
