By Enock Akonnor (Managing Editor) enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Victor Smith, has led high-level discussions with officials from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania aimed at unlocking new investment opportunities in Ghana’s agricultural sector and expanding market access across Africa.
The strategic engagement, held at Philadelphia City Hall, brought together Ambassador Smith, the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, and Pennsylvania’s Senior Managing Director for International Trade and Investment, David Briel.
The meeting formed part of Ghana’s broader economic diplomacy efforts to position the country as a regional hub for agricultural production and agribusiness, with direct access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
Ambassador Smith highlighted Ghana’s strategic location, political stability, investor-friendly environment, and expanding consumer market, presenting the country as an ideal gateway for American agribusinesses seeking entry into Africa.
He pointed to areas of strong alignment with Pennsylvania’s expertise, particularly in dairy production, vanilla cultivation, and value-added agricultural products.
In response, David Briel outlined how Pennsylvania-based companies could expand into Ghana through mutually beneficial partnerships that support food security, agro-industrial growth, and private-sector expansion, while enabling U.S. firms to scale operations and reach broader African markets.
Food and agricultural technology featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exploring collaboration in modern farming systems, agro-processing, storage facilities, and cold-chain logistics.
These innovations were identified as critical to improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and enhancing the competitiveness of Ghana’s agricultural exports.
Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor reaffirmed the Government of Ghana’s commitment to agriculture and agribusiness as a key pillar of national development, highlighting policies and initiatives designed to attract investment, encourage technology transfer, and create sustainable employment—particularly for young people.
Concluding the engagement, Ambassador Smith reiterated Ghana’s openness to partnerships that go beyond trade to include knowledge sharing, innovation, and long-term value creation, noting that collaboration with Pennsylvania presents a strong opportunity to align expertise, markets, and development goals.
The discussions align with the mandates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, and the Ghana Tourism Authority, as Ghana continues to strengthen international partnerships to drive inclusive economic growth.
Credit: US Embassy Ghana
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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