Ghana’s ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, is pressing for deeper US investment in agriculture and agribusiness as part of a broader push to cut food imports, ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves and expand job opportunities for young Ghanaians.
Smith made the case during economic and agribusiness engagements in Pennsylvania with State Senator Scott Martin, framing agricultural investment as both an economic and social priority. He said strengthening domestic production would help improve livelihoods at home, reducing the risks faced by Ghanaian youth abroad, including exposure to tougher enforcement actions by US immigration authorities.
At the center of Ghana’s pitch is the cost of food imports. Smith said rice imports alone account for one of the country’s largest sources of foreign exchange outflows, pointing to the urgency of scaling local production and agro-processing to reverse the trend. Reducing import dependence, he said, would stabilise the currency while creating jobs across farming, logistics and food manufacturing.
Smith also mentioned Ghana’s strategic position as a gateway to Africa’s multibillion-dollar consumer market, arguing that investors in Ghana gain access not only to the domestic economy but to the wider African Continental Free Trade Area.
Pennsylvania Senator Scott Martin outlined the state’s agricultural strategy and identified areas of agribusiness where partnerships with Ghana could deliver mutual benefits. He expressed interest in collaborating with the Ghanaian government, particularly in areas that align farm production with processing and export opportunities.
The US-Ghana Chamber of Commerce reinforced the case for closer ties. Speaking on behalf of the chamber, Florence Torson-Hart said Pennsylvania’s agricultural practices and production culture closely mirror those of Ghana, making the state a natural partner. She said agriculture-led cooperation could anchor broader economic engagement between the two countries.
Daniel Wubah, president of Millersville University and a Ghanaian national, pointed to education and institutional partnerships as another pillar of cooperation, saying existing links with Philadelphia and Pennsylvania could be leveraged to support skills development and applied research in agriculture.
The discussions focused on modernising Ghana’s farming systems, expanding agro-processing capacity and strengthening value chains as a long-term response to rising import costs. The goal is to move agriculture beyond subsistence, positioning it as a scalable business sector capable of driving growth, exports and employment.
The engagement with US political, academic and business leaders forms part of Ghana’s wider economic diplomacy strategy, which aims to attract investment, deepen trade ties and support sustainable development through private-sector-led growth.
