Ofosu-Adjare: Trade Minister markets Ghana as Africa’s gateway at Japan Expo
Ghana has made a strong pitch to global investors at the ongoing Osaka World Expo 2025 in Japan, urging them to take advantage of the country’s strategic position as the gateway to West Africa.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, who led Ghana’s delegation, told participants at the Ghana National Day event that the country remained committed to building an open and transparent business climate that rewards innovation and long-term partnerships.
“Ghana remains a strategic entry point into the ECOWAS sub-region and an anchor for Africa-wide trade, hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat,” she said. “We want the world to know that Ghana is open for business, and more importantly, that Ghana is ready for partnership.”
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare explained that Ghana’s participation in the Expo was not merely symbolic but a deliberate attempt to reintroduce the nation to the global business community as a land of “boundless possibilities.” She cited Ghana’s political stability, dynamic youth population and role in continental trade as advantages for prospective investors.
She further urged investors to explore opportunities in ICT, agribusiness, health, education, industry, tourism, and culture, stressing that the government under President John Dramani Mahama was advancing industrialisation through a “private sector first” approach. Among the flagship initiatives she highlighted were the Accelerated Export Development Programme, Feed the Industry Programme, the Made-in-Ghana Campaign, and the Free Apprenticeship Programme.
On bilateral relations, the Minister reaffirmed Ghana’s long-standing friendship with Japan, describing it as one founded on “decades of mutual respect and collaboration.” She noted that Ghana’s exports to Japan—mainly cocoa, gold and coffee—continued to grow steadily, while Japan provided Ghana with high-quality goods including automobiles, electronics and machinery.
Mr Shigeto Shikeyema, Vice Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition, also underscored the shared values between Ghana and Japan, saying the relationship was rooted in democracy, the rule of law and a history stretching back to 1957. He recalled that Japanese scientist Dr Hideyo Noguchi’s visit to Ghana in 1927 cemented ties between the two nations, with next year marking the centenary of his visit and 70 years of formal diplomatic relations.
The Ghana Day event, which attracted hundreds of Japanese participants, featured rich cultural performances showcasing Ghana’s heritage. The Expo itself is being held under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” with Ghana aligning its national theme “Ghana: A Country of Possibilities and Empowerment” to the sub-theme “Empowering Lives.”
