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President Akufo-Addo Invites Chinese Investors To Join Ghana’s Economic Transformation
At the China-Ghana Business Forum in Shenzhen, China, on September 7, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made a compelling case for increased Chinese investment in Ghana.
Speaking to a gathering of Chinese business leaders, the President emphasized the longstanding relationship between Ghana and China, as well as the tremendous investment opportunities Ghana offers in sectors ranging from manufacturing to agriculture and green energy.
President Akufo-Addo opened his address with a Chinese proverb, “If you want to walk far, walk with someone,” symbolizing Ghana’s desire to walk hand-in-hand with China on the path to long-term economic progress. He highlighted Ghana’s determination to learn from China’s success story and its commitment to deepening ties with China’s business community to ensure mutual prosperity.
The President emphasized the strong trade relations between Ghana and China, noting that China has been Ghana’s largest trading partner since 2015. In 2023, trade between the two nations reached $9.23 billion. He commended Chinese companies for their continued investment in key sectors such as construction, energy, agriculture, and ICT, and he attributed China’s growing presence in Ghana to the West African country’s stability, security, and welcoming investment environment.
Reflecting on the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, President Akufo-Addo pointed out that these events have exposed structural weaknesses across Africa.
He urged the business community to partner with Ghana to create resilient, climate-conscious, and diversified economies that can withstand future global shocks.
According to him, international cooperation will be essential in building economies that thrive despite global disruptions.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted Ghana’s progress under his administration, citing his government’s efforts to foster a business-friendly environment since assuming office in 2017. He noted that Ghana’s economy grew rapidly between 2017 and 2020, with an average annual GDP growth rate of 7%.
Despite the economic setbacks caused by the pandemic and geopolitical challenges, the President expressed optimism that Ghana is once again on a path of robust economic growth.
The President’s remarks also highlighted his government’s ambitious Ghana CARES ‘Obaatampa’ Programme, a comprehensive economic revitalization plan aimed at addressing the challenges caused by the pandemic.
The programme seeks to inject significant investments into key sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, housing, and healthcare. The initiative requires private sector participation, and President Akufo-Addo invited Chinese businesses to contribute to this effort, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in rebuilding the Ghanaian economy.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo showcased a range of government programs designed to boost industrialization and economic development. These included the “Planting for Food and Jobs” initiative, the development of Ghana’s nascent automotive sector, and efforts to build integrated bauxite and iron industries. These initiatives, he explained, are part of Ghana’s broader strategy to transition from an exporter of raw materials to a value-added, industrialized economy.
The President also spoke about Ghana’s unique position as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra. He pointed out that this continental trade agreement offers immense opportunities for businesses to access African markets, positioning Ghana as a strategic hub for regional trade and investment.
“We are leveraging the AfCFTA to become a new commercial capital of Africa,” the President declared, highlighting the potential for Ghana to serve as a gateway to the continent.
In closing, President Akufo-Addo reiterated that Ghana is an ideal destination for Chinese investment. With a stable regulatory environment, favorable fiscal policies, and abundant natural resources, the country offers unparalleled opportunities for businesses looking to expand into Africa.
He urged Chinese investors to seize the moment, stressing that Ghana’s doors are open and its markets are ready to support meaningful partnerships.
With a renewed commitment to fostering strong ties between Ghana and China, President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism about the future, noting that deeper collaboration between the two countries will create shared prosperity for their people.
“Let us seize this moment to forge stronger ties, build lasting partnerships, and create shared prosperity for the people of Ghana and China,” the President concluded, extending his gratitude to the Chinese business community for their continued interest in Ghana.
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Ghana-Colombia strengthens ties through diplomatic engagement
In an important diplomatic engagement, the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Daniel Garces Carabali paid a courtesy call on the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, at his office in Accra to discuss some key areas of collaboration.
The meeting focused on pressing issues, including security, decongestion of Ghana’s prisons, prison reform programmes, training programmes, improving the welfare of prisoners and enhancing disaster management in the country.
The courtesy call underscores the growing bilateral ties between Ghana and Colombia, building on previous engagements, such as the visit of the Colombian Vice President to Ghana in 2023.
The meeting demonstrates the commitment of both nations to fostering cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
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Ghana to host African Catholic Journalists from August 10
The Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press, in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), is set to host its prestigious Triennial Congress from August 10 to 17 August, 2025.
The programme would be held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Legon, Accra, Ghana.
This landmark event, the most significant gathering of Catholic journalists in Africa, will bring together media professionals, researchers, and experts in digital technology from across the continent and beyond.
The theme for the Congress is: “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Congress Highlights
The UCAP Congress 2025 will feature discussions and deliberations on critical issues arising from or related to integral human development, particularly within the framework of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Some of the key sub-themes to be addressed include:Corporate Social Responsibility in Managing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Values, Deploying AI in Eco-friendly Business Start-ups in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Technology and the Reprogramming of Social Reality, Distortion of Reality in Social and Digital Media, Ecological Education and Action Against Unsustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources, and Media and the Promotion of the Recommendations of the Synod on Synodality in Africa.
Participants will include media professionals from both ecclesiastical and lay organisations, media researchers and academics, representatives from the Vatican, government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the digital technology sector.
Objectives of the Congress
The primary goal of this Congress is to strengthen the capacities of media professionals and educate the public on the necessity of preserving human values amid rapid technological progress. Specific objectives include; Training 100 media practitioners in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, with a focus on balancing innovation and human values.
This will include promoting ethics and bioethics in technical research and technological innovations through media.
Advocating for human values such as respect for life, human dignity, charity, solidarity, and human rights and assessing the impact of technological progress to better understand the challenges, risks, and opportunities presented by AI will be part of the objectives.
UCAP is a continental organisation dedicated to promoting communication within the Catholic Church and its partners in Africa. With a mission to foster spiritual growth, collaboration, and responsible journalism, UCAP works to spread the Gospel, uphold human values, and support developmental initiatives across Africa and beyond.
UCAP is an independent, autonomous, non-political, and non-profit organisation comprising African Catholic journalists, communicators, academics, researchers, and institutions in various media fields.
