Ghana deepens China investment drive to accelerate industrial and agribusiness transformation
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, is leading a high-level Ghanaian delegation to the People’s Republic of China as part of government’s renewed efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties and attract strategic investments into Ghana’s industrial and agribusiness sectors.
The mission, undertaken on the directive of President John Dramani Mahama, forms part of the government’s broader RESET Agenda and industrial transformation strategy aimed at positioning Ghana as a major trade, manufacturing and investment hub in Africa.
The delegation includes officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, VALCO, the Ghana Free Zones Authority, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and private-sector partner Sentuo Group, alongside other senior technical stakeholders.
A major highlight of the visit is Ghana’s participation in the China-Ghana Investment Forum, where Mrs Ofosu-Adjare is expected to deliver a keynote address showcasing Ghana’s expanding investment opportunities, industrial potential, investor-friendly climate and strategic access to regional and continental markets.
As part of the mission, the Ghanaian delegation toured major industrial facilities in Hubei and Wuhan provinces, including advanced maize milling and silo manufacturing plants, fertiliser production facilities, integrated chemical industrial parks and large-scale agro-industrial manufacturing ecosystems.
The tour offered first-hand exposure to integrated industrial-chain systems linking fertiliser production, agricultural inputs, storage infrastructure, food processing, logistics and export-oriented manufacturing — models government believes could support Ghana’s drive towards agricultural industrialisation and value addition.
The delegation’s inspection of maize milling and storage facilities aligns with President Mahama’s vision of building a comprehensive maize economy through large-scale processing, storage and export systems.
Speaking on government’s agriculture-led industrialisation agenda, President Mahama recently stated: “We will not allow Ghanaian maize to go to waste. We will buy it, process it, export it, and turn agriculture into industry.”
The President further outlined government’s long-term ambition to establish an integrated agro-industrial value chain capable of supporting farmers, stabilising food markets, creating jobs and increasing export earnings.
“Ghana is no longer thinking only about growing maize – we are building a complete maize economy. From silos to processing plants, from farmers to exports, we are creating an industrial value chain that guarantees markets for our farmers, creates jobs for our youth, strengthens food security and earns foreign exchange for our nation,” President Mahama said.
“Through strategic partnerships and industrial cooperation, Ghana will establish modern maize milling and silo infrastructure to buy, process, store and export value-added products to the world,” he added.
The China mission also focused heavily on fertiliser industrialisation and agricultural input manufacturing as part of government’s strategy to reduce fertiliser import dependency and strengthen the Feed Ghana Programme.
During engagements with Chinese partners, the delegation explored opportunities for collaboration in large-scale fertiliser manufacturing, NPK and urea-based fertiliser production, agrochemical production, agricultural input distribution systems, industrial storage and logistics infrastructure, technology transfer, industrial research partnerships, industrial park development and agricultural mechanisation systems.
Government officials indicated that Ghana’s fertiliser industrialisation agenda is expected to improve local food production, stabilise fertiliser prices, increase farmer productivity and reduce pressure on foreign exchange through import substitution.
The delegation also held discussions with industrial technology and manufacturing firms operating in recycling, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and advanced agro-processing, with a strong focus on attracting Chinese investment into Ghana’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare is expected to use the mission to further promote Ghana’s strategic position as a gateway to the West African market through the Economic Community of West African States and the African Continental Free Trade Area, as well as opportunities arising from the zero-tariff trade arrangement between Ghana and China.
Government believes Ghana’s stable democratic environment, improving infrastructure, strategic location and strong policy support for industrialisation continue to make the country one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment.
Officials say the mission is expected to open new avenues for strategic partnerships capable of driving industrial expansion, job creation, skills development, technology transfer and sustainable economic growth.
Accompanying the minister on the mission is Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, alongside senior government officials and representatives from key state institutions and the private sector.
The visit underscores Ghana’s growing commitment to strengthening international economic partnerships and accelerating industrial development through strategic global cooperation.