Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, His Excellency Victor Emmanuel Smith, has reaffirmed his commitment to improving economic opportunities for Ghanaian youth as a long-term solution to irregular migration and the harsh treatment some migrants face from law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“I don’t want my people to be molested by ICE,” the Ambassador stated, emphasizing that sustainable job creation and economic empowerment in Ghana remain critical to discouraging dangerous migration journeys.
The Ambassador made these remarks during high-level economic and agribusiness engagements with the Senator for the State of Pennsylvania, Scott Martin. Discussions focused on deepening investment cooperation between Ghana and the United States, with particular attention to agriculture, trade, and youth employment.
In his presentation, Ambassador Smith highlighted Ghana’s strategic position as a gateway to Africa and the vast multi-billion-dollar African market it offers to global investors.
He stressed that Ghana’s political stability, investor-friendly policies, and expanding export potential make it an attractive destination for U.S. businesses seeking opportunities on the continent.
A key concern raised by the Ambassador was Ghana’s heavy dependence on food imports, which continues to exert pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
He noted that rice importation alone accounts for one of the largest outflows of foreign exchange, underscoring the urgent need to invest in domestic agricultural production, agro-processing, and value-chain development to reverse this trend.
Senator Scott Martin outlined Pennsylvania’s current agricultural strategy and identified several areas of interest for agribusiness collaboration. He expressed strong interest in partnering with the Government of Ghana to develop mutually beneficial agricultural and investment initiatives.
Speaking on behalf of the U.S.–Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Florence Torson-Hart noted that no other U.S. state mirrors Ghana’s agricultural practices and production culture as closely as Pennsylvania. She emphasized that Ghana should be a priority partner as both countries work to strengthen economic cooperation focused on agriculture, job creation, and sustainable development.
Adding an academic and institutional perspective, the President of Millersville University, Professor Daniel Wubah—himself a Ghanaian—highlighted the significant opportunities for collaboration and the strong cultural and economic ties that could make partnerships between Ghana and institutions in Philadelphia more seamless and impactful.
The central focus of the meeting was the transformation of Ghana’s agricultural sector as a sustainable response to rising import costs.
Through modernized farming methods, expanded agro-processing, and improved value chains, Ghana aims not only to achieve food self-sufficiency but also to position agriculture as a major driver of long-term economic growth.
The engagement with U.S. partners and the U.S.–Ghana Chamber of Commerce marks another important step in Ghana’s economic diplomacy agenda, reinforcing its commitment to investment-led growth, job creation, and sustainable national development.
Enock Akonnor is an experienced Ghanaian journalist, based in Kumasi and currently serves as the CEO and Managing Editor of www.leakyghana.com.
With a wealth of expertise built over many years in the media industry, he has earned a solid reputation as one of Ghana’s most sought-after journalists.
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✉️ enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
