Ghana Courts Major Chinese Investments as Trade Minister Leads High‑Level Mission to Beijing

The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu‑Adjare, is leading a high‑level Ghanaian delegation to the People’s Republic of China as part of government’s renewed push to deepen bilateral economic cooperation and attract strategic investments into Ghana’s industrial and agribusiness sectors.

The mission, undertaken on the directive of President John Dramani Mahama, forms a key pillar of the government’s RESET Agenda and industrial transformation strategy aimed at positioning Ghana as a competitive trade, manufacturing and investment hub in Africa.

The delegation includes officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, VALCO, the Ghana Free Zones Authority, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, private‑sector partner Sentuo Group, and other senior technical experts.

A major highlight of the visit is Ghana’s participation in the China–Ghana Investment Forum, where Mrs. Ofosu‑Adjare is expected to deliver a keynote address showcasing Ghana’s expanding investment opportunities, industrial potential, investor‑friendly climate and strategic access to regional and continental markets.

As part of the mission, the delegation toured major industrial facilities in the Hubei and Wuhan provinces, including advanced maize milling and silo manufacturing plants, fertiliser production facilities, integrated chemical industrial parks and large‑scale agro‑industrial ecosystems.

The tour provided first‑hand exposure to integrated industrial‑chain systems linking fertiliser production, agricultural inputs, storage infrastructure, food processing, logistics and export‑oriented manufacturing—models government believes could accelerate Ghana’s agricultural industrialisation and value‑addition agenda.

The inspection of maize milling and storage facilities aligns with President Mahama’s vision of building a comprehensive maize economy anchored on large‑scale processing, storage and export systems.

“We will not allow Ghanaian maize to go to waste. We will buy it, process it, export it, and turn agriculture into industry,” President Mahama recently stated.

He further outlined government’s long‑term ambition to establish an integrated agro‑industrial value chain capable of supporting farmers, stabilising food markets, creating jobs and boosting export earnings.

“Ghana is no longer thinking only about growing maize—we are building a complete maize economy. From silos to processing plants, from farmers to exports, we are creating an industrial value chain that guarantees markets for our farmers, creates jobs for our youth, strengthens food security and earns foreign exchange for our nation,” he said.

The China mission also placed strong emphasis on fertiliser industrialisation and agricultural input manufacturing as part of government’s strategy to reduce import dependency and strengthen the Feed Ghana Programme.

During engagements with Chinese partners, the delegation explored opportunities for collaboration in large‑scale fertiliser manufacturing, NPK and urea production, agrochemical development, agricultural input distribution, industrial storage and logistics systems, technology transfer, industrial research partnerships, industrial park development and agricultural mechanisation.

Government officials say Ghana’s fertiliser industrialisation agenda is expected to boost local food production, stabilise fertiliser prices, increase farmer productivity and reduce pressure on foreign exchange through import substitution.

The delegation also held discussions with industrial technology and manufacturing firms in recycling, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and advanced agro‑processing, with a strong focus on attracting Chinese investment into Ghana’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Mrs. Ofosu‑Adjare is expected to use the mission to further promote Ghana’s strategic position as a gateway to the West African market through ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area, as well as opportunities arising from the zero‑tariff trade arrangement between Ghana and China.

Government maintains that Ghana’s stable democratic environment, improving infrastructure, strategic location and strong policy support for industrialisation continue to make the country one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment.

Accompanying the minister on the mission is Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture John Dumelo, alongside senior government officials and representatives from key state institutions and the private sector.

The visit underscores Ghana’s commitment to strengthening international economic partnerships and accelerating industrial development through strategic global cooperation.

--CitiNewsRoom