Canada will offer technical support for establishment of Women's Development Bank — Ablakwa

Ghana and Canada have agreed to deepen development cooperation, with Canada pledging technical assistance towards the establishment of Ghana’s proposed Women’s Development Bank.

The agreement was announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa following discussions with Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development, Randeep Sarai.

Mr Ablakwa said the proposed collaboration formed part of a broader package of partnerships aimed at expanding economic opportunities, promoting skills development and supporting sustainable growth in Ghana.

In a Facebook post, the minister described his engagement with Mr Sarai as positive and productive, adding that the discussions had identified several areas for cooperation between the 2 countries.

A key outcome was Canada’s commitment to provide technical support for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank, which is expected to improve women’s access to financial services and create opportunities for greater economic participation.

“Canada will offer technical support for the establishment of Ghana's Women's Development Bank,” he stated.

Beyond the initiative, Ghana and Canada also agreed to develop a partnership focused on labour mobility and skills empowerment for young people.

According to Mr Ablakwa, the proposed cooperation will cover digital literacy, standardised certification to facilitate access to international employment opportunities, energy transition, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

The 2 countries further agreed to strengthen cooperation with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).

Environmental management and land reclamation were also discussed, with both countries expressing their readiness to collaborate on modern approaches to environmental protection.

Mr Ablakwa said the partnership would support efforts to promote legal and sustainable mining practices while improving environmental protection and reclamation initiatives.