Turkish Ambassador urges stronger Ghana-Turkey investment partnerships to boost local production

The Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Hüseyin Güngör, has called for stronger investment partnerships between Ghanaian and Turkish businesses, stressing the need for long-term cooperation to promote local production, create employment and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

He said Ghana and Turkey had significant opportunities to expand their economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, agro-processing, textiles, machinery and spare parts, urging businesses in both countries to explore investment opportunities beyond traditional trade.

Speaking during a tour of Nokware Frozen Foods facility, the Ambassador said Ghana had demonstrated considerable potential for industrial growth and could become a stronger production and export hub with increased investment and partnerships.

“I have seen a state-of-the-art facility here. This shows, in fact, where trade is in Ghana. This is a very good hub with the potential to expand,” he said.

Mr Güngör, who noted that he had spent nearly four years in Ghana, said he had continued to be impressed by the development of businesses he visited, expressing confidence that more production and export-oriented facilities would emerge in the country.

He said Turkey had a strong industrial base capable of supporting Ghana's development ambitions, adding that Turkish businesses could bring their expertise and technology to complement Ghana's growing production capacity.

According to him, the potential for cooperation between the two countries extended beyond Turkish companies investing in Ghana, as Ghanaian entrepreneurs could also explore opportunities in Turkey.

“This is not a one-way street. Let me underline, Ghana has very good investors and entrepreneurs. I always advise them to go and consider investing in Turkey as well,” he said.

The Ambassador explained that partnerships between businesses in the two countries could facilitate the exchange of knowledge, technology and expertise, allowing both sides to benefit from their respective strengths.

He further called for cooperation between the governments of Ghana and Turkey to address legal and tax-related issues that could facilitate investment and create an enabling environment for businesses.

Mr Güngör said the Turkish government was promoting investment in areas such as textiles, agribusiness, agro-processing, machinery and spare parts, which presented opportunities for Ghanaian businesses seeking foreign partnerships.

He added that Turkish investors who established businesses in Ghana could contribute to the local economy through employment creation and the development of long-term commercial relationships.

“Trade is short-term; in the long term, partnerships to establish here. That's what I have been promoting on both sides,” he said.

The Ambassador also expressed Turkey's willingness to participate in Ghana's development initiatives, stressing that economic growth in Ghana would benefit both countries.

He described the relationship as a mutually beneficial partnership rather than a competition, saying Turkey was interested in supporting development efforts in areas where its industrial capabilities could make a meaningful contribution.

Ghanaian Businessman Calls for Support for Local Poultry Production

Meanwhile, President of Prince Mark Company Limited, Prince Amoh, has called on the government to work with established poultry businesses to strengthen domestic production and reduce Ghana's dependence on imported chicken.

Mr Amoah, who imports and distributes frozen fish across Ghana, said government programmes aimed at boosting poultry production would achieve better results if authorities partnered with entrepreneurs already operating in the sector.

He disclosed that he was developing a poultry processing facility at Akransah, which he expected to commission in early 2027, with the capacity to process 3,000 birds per hour.

He said the project was intended to increase local production and contribute to efforts to reduce the country's poultry import bill.

Mr Amoah estimated that Ghana imported about 400,000 metric tonnes of chicken annually, representing a significant expenditure in foreign currency.

He said his facility could produce approximately 25,000 metric tonnes annually when operating at full capacity, although he acknowledged that this would still be insufficient to meet the country's overall demand.

According to him, Ghana could make significant progress towards self-sufficiency in poultry products over the next decade if the government provided appropriate support to capable businesses.

“The programme is a good programme, but government must identify people who are already in that business, who are already in that space, so that it can partner with them,” he said.

He proposed that government consider providing funding and other forms of assistance to existing poultry operators to accelerate implementation and improve production.

Mr Amoah also highlighted the role of Ghana-Turkey business relationships in supporting local enterprises, explaining that he had worked with Nokware Frozen Foods for about 15 years.

He said equipment used in his operations, including tractors, trucks and loading machinery, had been sourced from Turkey through his business relationship with the company's proprietor.

Traditional Leader Urges Government to Create Favourable Investment Conditions

Also speaking during the engagement, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Dan Salley Chief of Baribari Ga Central and Vice-Chairman of the Baribari Association of Ghana, urged the government to create more favourable conditions for foreign investors.

He said foreign businesses could contribute significantly to Ghana's economic development by creating jobs, introducing technology and providing opportunities for local workers to acquire new skills.

Alhaji Tijani argued that Ghanaians should view foreign investment as an opportunity to learn, develop their own businesses and eventually establish local manufacturing industries.

He said the country needed to move beyond its dependence on importing finished products and invest more in factories and domestic production.

“We cannot be workers for the rest of our life. We cannot be followers. We have to be owners. And it is time for Ghanaians to be owners,” he said.

He called on the government to consider reducing the tax burden on businesses and improving access to affordable loans, particularly for entrepreneurs seeking to establish or expand production facilities.

According to him, lower borrowing costs and targeted support could encourage more businesses to invest in manufacturing, agriculture and other productive sectors of the economy.

He also urged financial institutions to provide loans at more affordable interest rates to enable local entrepreneurs to compete effectively and expand their operations.

The engagement highlighted the potential for stronger Ghana-Turkey business relations to support local production, facilitate technology transfer and create employment, while underscoring calls for government policies that enable both foreign and domestic investors to expand their businesses in Ghana.

The Chief Executive of Nokware Frozen Foods, Onur Ozer, expressed gratitude to the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Hüseyin Güngör, for the visit and his continued efforts to strengthen economic relations between Ghana and Turkey. He said the engagement reflected the importance of building stronger connections between Turkish investors and the Ghanaian business community.

Mr Ozer noted that sustained cooperation between businesses from both countries could create opportunities for investment, expand local production and support employment generation. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining strong relationships with Ghanaian business partners to ensure the long-term sustainability of investments.

He said foreign businesses operating in Ghana had a responsibility to contribute to the country's economic development by creating jobs, transferring knowledge and supporting local enterprise. He added that closer collaboration between Ghanaian and Turkish businesses could help identify new opportunities across various sectors of the economy.

Mr Ozer expressed optimism that continued engagement between the two countries would encourage more Turkish investors to consider Ghana as a destination for business and investment. He said stronger partnerships would benefit both countries while contributing to the growth of Ghana's private sector.