Ghana has urged international investors to capitalize on the nation’s strategic location as the entry point to West Africa in a compelling presentation at the current Osaka World Expo 2025 in Japan.
The head of Ghana’s delegation, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, assured attendees at the Ghana National Day event that Ghana is still dedicated to creating a transparent and open business environment that encourages creativity and long-term collaborations.
“Ghana remains a strategic entry point into the ECOWAS sub-region and an anchor for Africa-wide trade, hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat, we want the world to know that Ghana is open for business, and more importantly, that Ghana is ready for partnership.” She said.
According to Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare, Ghana’s involvement in the Expo was not only symbolic; rather, it was a conscious effort to present the country to the international business world as a place with “boundless possibilities.” As benefits for potential investors, she mentioned Ghana’s political stability, vibrant youth population, and involvement in continental trade.
The government of President John Dramani Mahama was pushing industrialization with a “private sector first” strategy, she added, and she encouraged investors to look into prospects in ICT, agribusiness, health, education, industry, tourism, and culture. The Accelerated Export Development Program, Feed the Industry Program, Made-in-Ghana Campaign, and the Free Apprenticeship Program were some of the key projects she highlighted.
Speaking about bilateral ties, the Minister reiterated Ghana’s friendship with Japan, which she described as being based on “decades of mutual respect and collaboration.” She pointed out that while Japan supplied Ghana with high-quality products like cars, electronics, and machinery, Ghana’s exports to Japan—primarily cocoa, gold, and coffee—kept increasing consistently.
The 2025 World Exposition’s Vice Commissioner General, Mr. Shigeto Shikeyema, also emphasized Ghana and Japan’s common principles, stating that their connection is based on democracy, the rule of law, and a shared history dating back to 1957. Next year will mark the centennial of Japanese scientist Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s visit to Ghana in 1927 and the 70th anniversary of established diplomatic relations between the two countries, he remembered.
Hundreds of Japanese people attended the Ghana Day event, which showcased Ghana’s rich cultural legacy through a variety of acts. The Expo’s theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” and Ghana has matched the sub-theme “Empowering Lives” with its national theme, “Ghana: A Country of Possibilities and Empowerment.”
