Ghana, Nebraska forge partnership to boost agribusiness

The Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Growth and Trade Relations Chamber (GNEBCham) has been launched in Accra.

The chamber is to help facilitate agribusiness between Ghana and the state of Nebraska in the United States (US).

The event, which took place in Accra yesterday, was attended by key stakeholders from Ghana and Nebraska, including government officials, agribusiness leaders, farmers and traditional rulers.

Boosting trade

A Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, who did the launch, urged Ghanaian agribusinesses to register as members of the chamber to help boost trade relations between Ghana and the US.

He said the initiative formed part of Ghana’s foreign policy of forging economic partnerships. "At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, we always support initiatives which aim to create sustainable agribusiness opportunities and strengthen trade exchanges.  

“This collaboration will advance the agribusiness sector, encourage innovation and streamline trade processes between Ghana and Nebraska,” the deputy minister added.

A Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong-Addo, also called on young Ghanaian farmers to capitalise on opportunities offered through the partnership to grow their establishments. 

Collaboration

A representative of the US Embassy, Easton Reid, said the initiative was crucial to the growth of the agricultural sector to facilitate sustainable development and prosperity for both Ghanaians and Nebraskans.  

He also said that since 2022, the US Embassy had collaborated with the founders of GNEBCham and assisted over 20 Ghanaian company executives and government leaders to attend the Husker Harvest Days, the largest annual farm show and workshop in Nebraska.

“The US Embassy reaffirms its commitment to working with GNEBCham. Together, we will continue to build bridges, create opportunities and drive economic growth for the benefit of our nations,” Mr Reid said.

Objective

A co-founder of GNEBCham, Senator Ken Schilz, further explained that the chamber's purpose was to foster collaboration and partnerships between agribusinesses in Ghana and Nebraska.

"The chamber is not only committed to facilitating networking opportunities between Ghanaian and Nebraskan agribusinesses, but will also advocate for better policies to improve agriculture in both regions," he added.

Another co-founder, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, also highlighted the importance of the partnership in transforming Ghana’s agricultural landscape.

She said the chamber would work to bridge the gap between commercial farmers and the international market by adopting best practices from Nebraska's advanced agricultural sector.

The board of GNEBCham has 14 members, including the two co-founders - Mr Schilz of Nebraska and Ms Akosa from Ghana. Ms Doris Ahiati serves as the Chairperson of the chamber with Cecil Sunkwa-Mills as Vice-President.

The combined number of pledged members of GNEBCham at the launch was about 100.