British High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Harriet Thompson, has revealed that trade between Ghana and the United Kingdom (UK) has experienced consistent growth, reaching £2.4 billion in 2022.
During this period, Ghana’s primary agricultural exports to the UK included vegetables and fruits valued at £59.4 million, fish and shellfish worth £39.6 million, and coffee, tea, and cocoa with an approximate value of £18.7 million.
At a reception to welcome a delegation from the Agriculture and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) of the UK, the High Commissioner emphasized the significance of meat in the trade relationship between Ghana and the UK.
The 10-member AHDB delegation is engaged in a three-day trade mission to Ghana with the objective of establishing closer collaborations in areas such as improved genetics and agricultural innovation, encompassing both arable and livestock agriculture.
Madam Thompson, while addressing the gathering at her residence in Accra, emphasised the British High Commission’s commitment to increasing trade volumes between the two nations by facilitating British exports to Ghana and Ghanaian exports to the UK.
The delegation, comprising UK meat producers and exporters, has been introduced to meat importers in a bid to foster new connections and business relationships for companies in both Ghana and the UK.
The British High Commissioner noted that Ghana stood as one of the largest importers of British meat beyond the European Union (EU) and expressed optimism that trade figures would see further growth with the delegation’s visit to Ghana.
Between 2019 and 2021, Ghana held the distinction of being the most significant importer of British beef among all exports outside the EU and represented one of the primary non-EU destinations for British sheep meat.
Madam Thompson also highlighted the UK’s world-leading agri-tech expertise, which encompasses various fields such as satellite farm networks, precision agriculture, engineering, crop protection, soil health, livestock productivity, health, welfare, and agri-data.
“Our business and trade team at the British High Commission in Accra is always ready to help businesses identify partners with that expertise to help their businesses grow,” she said.
The agriculture sector contributed nearly 19 percent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product in 2022 and around 40 percent of the country’s workforce.
Therefore, Madam Thompson said, “The growth in Ghana’s agriculture really matters, so the expertise that the UK can bring really matters.”
She suggested that the UK’s expertise and investments could play a vital role in supporting the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs program, which underscores the importance of commercial agriculture, as announced by the President.
Within the framework of the UK-Ghana Trade Partnership Agreement, there exists a provision for both duty-free and unrestricted access to British markets and products.
She also highlighted the Growth Gateway, a UK government initiative offering free business support services to both UK and African businesses, facilitating access to markets in both the UK and Africa.
The Ambassador urged Ghanaian exporters and producers to seize this opportunity, as it provides tailored support to help them advance to the next level of their export endeavours.
Dr. Awal Fuseini, Senior Exports Manager (AHDB) and the head of the delegation, emphasised that this mission was mutually beneficial, aiming to bolster collaboration and enable meat importers to establish direct access to supplies in the UK.
Regarding the advantages of this partnership for Ghanaian producers, he stressed that the agriculture sector, in general, would benefit from improved genetics in terms of animal breeds while assisting in addressing the meat supply deficit in the UK.
Dr. Fuseini also commended the government’s Rearing for Food and Jobs Program, which aims to boost animal and meat production in Ghana.
However, he said, “You need the right animals, veterinary interventions, the right feed and the right housing to be able to commercialise production.”
Dr Fuseini, also the Sector Manager for Halal, said, “There’s no point turning animals to a farmer who hasn’t got the right feed, the right housing, and the right veterinary interventions.”