Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, together with the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, has held a strategic meeting with the Snr. Manging Director for International Trade and Investment, David Briel, in Harrisburg, PA, to explore investment opportunities in Ghana’s agricultural sector and deepen bilateral cooperation.
The engagement, which took place in the
Philadelphia City Hall, formed part of Ghana’s broader economic diplomacy efforts to position the country as a regional hub for agricultural production and agribusiness, with direct access to the wider African market.
Ambassador Victor Smith highlighted Ghana’s strategic location, stable investment climate, and growing consumer market, making it an ideal gateway for American agribusinesses seeking expansion into Africa. Particular attention was given to agricultural products in which Pennsylvania has established expertise, including dairy, vanilla, and related value-added products.
David Briel focused on how Pennsylvania’s businesses could expand into Ghana in ways that are mutually beneficial—supporting Ghana’s food security and agro-industrial development while enabling Pennsylvania-based companies to scale their operations and reach new markets across the continent.
Food technology featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides examining opportunities for collaboration in modern farming systems, processing, storage, cold-chain logistics, and agro-processing technologies. These innovations were identified as critical to improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and enhancing the competitiveness of Ghana’s agricultural exports.
Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor outlined the Government of Ghana’s commitment to agriculture and agribusiness as a key pillar of national development, emphasizing policies and initiatives designed to attract investment, encourage technology transfer, and create sustainable jobs—particularly for young people.
Victor Smith reiterated Ghana’s openness to partnerships that go beyond trade to include knowledge sharing, innovation, and long-term value creation, noting that collaboration with Pennsylvania presents a strong opportunity to align expertise, markets and development goals.
