Ghana has stepped up its efforts to attract more foreign investment and strengthen economic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The move is part of the country’s push to diversify its economy beyond traditional sectors like gold, cocoa, and oil. This was clearly demonstrated during the Ghana Roundtable Meeting held on February 15, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the UAE. The meeting coincided with the Gulf Food Exhibition, one of the largest international trade events in the region.
The Ghana Roundtable Meeting was organised by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ghana Embassy in the UAE. The event provided an opportunity for Ghanaian companies, especially those in agriculture, to showcase their innovations and connect with potential investors and business partners from the UAE.
Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the GIPC, led the Ghanaian delegation. He highlighted Ghana’s strong economic performance, political stability, and strategic location as advantages for international investors. Grant encouraged UAE companies to explore opportunities in Ghana’s key sectors, particularly industrialisation, agro-processing, and manufacturing.
He said, “Ghana is open for business. We are creating an investor-friendly environment and building strong institutions to support foreign investors. The UAE is a key partner, and we are excited about the prospects for stronger trade and investment links between our two countries.”
Also present at the event was Ghana’s Ambassador to the UAE, Ahmed Ramadan. He expressed hope that the meeting would lead to long-term partnerships between Ghanaian and Emirati businesses. Ambassador Ramadan noted that Ghana will continue to engage with the UAE through initiatives like the upcoming Ghana Investment Week, which aims to attract more Gulf investors to Ghana’s economy.
, the roundtable discussion forms part of a broader strategy to position Ghana as a top destination for investment in sub-Saharan Africa. The strategy includes targeted promotional activities in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Ghana is focusing on non-traditional sectors, such as technology, tourism, health care, and agriculture, as part of its long-term diversification plan.
Ghana’s participation in the Gulf Food Exhibition also allowed local agribusinesses to explore export opportunities and form partnerships with distributors and logistics providers in the UAE. The UAE, with its strategic location and global trade networks, presents a valuable market for Ghanaian products like processed foods, shea butter, fruits, vegetables, and cocoa derivatives.
The event attracted key players in the UAE’s investment space, including private equity firms, venture capitalists, food importers, logistics providers, and officials from free zones like Jebel Ali and Dubai South. The Ghanaian delegation also met with representatives of major UAE business groups interested in exploring investment opportunities in West Africa.
Officials from Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said the country is committed to easing the process of doing business. They pointed to improvements in digital business registration, customs processes, and infrastructure upgrades at key industrial parks and export processing zones. These efforts are designed to reduce bottlenecks for investors and improve the overall investment climate.
Ghana’s economic diversification agenda aims to reduce over-dependence on extractive industries. By expanding its industrial and agricultural base, the government hopes to create jobs, increase exports, and grow the economy in a sustainable manner. The country is also targeting increased intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with Accra hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat.
As part of its international outreach, Ghana plans to host investment promotion events in other key markets including China, Germany, and the United States. The GIPC says it is working closely with Ghana’s embassies and trade missions abroad to attract high-quality investments that will support national development goals.
With ongoing reforms and international engagement, Ghana is positioning itself as a reliable partner for trade and investment in Africa. The collaboration with the UAE is expected to play a major role in boosting investor confidence and opening new markets for Ghanaian businesses.
