Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged Chinese investors to invest in Ghana’s local processing and manufacturing industries as part of efforts to accelerate industrialisation, create jobs and derive greater economic value from the country’s natural resources.
Speaking to Chinese business executives in Shanghai, she outlined investment opportunities in cocoa, shea nuts, cashew nuts, coconut, timber and other raw materials, encouraging investors to support the production of finished and semi-finished goods from these commodities.
She emphasised that Ghana needed to reduce its reliance on raw material exports by building a strong manufacturing sector that could generate employment, enhance productivity and retain a greater proportion of economic value within the country.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang pointed to timber processing as an area with significant potential, explaining that Ghana could secure better returns by producing furniture and other finished wood products instead of exporting logs.
She said greater investment in domestic processing would strengthen industrial development while providing sustainable employment opportunities for the country’s growing population.
The Vice-President further highlighted the importance of ensuring that technical and vocational education and training meets the needs of industry, enabling young people to acquire skills that correspond with available employment opportunities.
“Training people for jobs that do not exist is training them for unemployment,” she said.
She explained that investment in productive sectors was necessary to create opportunities for technically trained young people to put their skills to use and contribute to national development.
She cautioned that a lack of adequate employment opportunities could leave increasing numbers of trained young people frustrated.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang reiterated Ghana’s willingness to work with Chinese businesses through mutually beneficial partnerships, particularly in manufacturing, logistics and other productive areas that could contribute to sustainable economic growth.
She also drew attention to the opportunities available through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides a framework for increasing trade across Africa.
According to her, Ghana’s strategic location as a gateway to the wider African market presents an opportunity for Chinese investors to establish businesses that can reach customers across the continent.
She nevertheless stressed that partnerships between Ghana and China should produce practical benefits for both countries, including employment creation, increased productive capacity and improved opportunities for Ghanaian businesses.
The Vice-President also questioned the extent of Ghanaian traders’ participation in businesses associated with China, raising concerns about the opportunities available to them in the Chinese market.
In particular, she questioned whether Ghanaian traders could obtain ownership stakes in the businesses they support.
Her concerns highlighted the need for stronger participation by Ghanaian entrepreneurs in international trade and investment, ensuring that economic cooperation between the two countries provides opportunities for local businesses to benefit more directly.
The discussions form part of Ghana’s wider efforts to strengthen economic relations with China and attract investment into industries capable of adding value to the country’s raw materials.
Ghana produces commodities including cocoa, cashew nuts, shea and timber, alongside mineral resources such as bauxite, lithium and diamonds.
Increasing investment in domestic processing and manufacturing could help create employment, develop local industries, reduce dependence on raw material exports and ensure that a larger share of the value generated from these resources remains in Ghana.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s engagement with Chinese business executives highlights Ghana’s continued efforts to attract investment that supports industrialisation, makes effective use of local skills, expands opportunities for Ghanaian businesses and promotes sustainable job creation.