Trade between Ghana and the United Kingdom (UK) has demonstrated consistent growth, reaching £2.4 billion in 2022, as revealed by Madam Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner to Ghana.
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, with coffee, tea, and cocoa amounting to approximately £18.7 million.
Madam Thompson, speaking at a reception to welcome a delegation from the Agriculture and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) from the UK, emphasized that meat played a crucial role in trade between Ghana and the UK.
The 10-member AHDB delegation is currently on a three-day trade mission to Ghana, with the goal of establishing closer partnerships in various areas, including improved genetics and agricultural innovation, spanning both arable and livestock agriculture.
Madam Thompson, addressing the guests at her residence in Accra, highlighted the British High Commission’s dedication to enhancing trade volumes between the two countries by boosting British exports to Ghana and Ghanaian exports to the UK.
The delegation, which includes UK meat producers and exporters, has been introduced to meat importers in order to foster new connections and enhance business ties for Ghanaian and British companies.
Madam Thompson noted that Ghana was one of the largest importers of British meat outside of the European Union (EU) and expressed confidence that trade numbers would continue to rise with the delegation’s presence in Ghana.
She also emphasized the UK’s expertise in agricultural technology, covering satellite farm networks, precision agriculture and engineering, crop protection, soil health, livestock productivity, health and welfare, and agri-data.
She stated, “Our business and trade team at the British High Commission Accra is always ready to help businesses identify partners with that expertise to help your businesses grow.”
The agriculture sector contributed nearly 19 percent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022 and employed around 40 percent of the country’s workforce.
Therefore, Madam Thompson emphasized the significance of the growth in Ghana’s agriculture and the potential impact of UK expertise and investments, particularly with regard to the Planting for Food and Jobs program.
Under the UK-Ghana Trade Partnership Agreement, there is both duty-free and unrestricted access to British markets and products.
Madam Thompson highlighted the Growth Gateway, a UK Government tool providing free business support services to UK and African businesses seeking to access the UK and African markets.
She encouraged Ghanaian exporters and producers to take advantage of this initiative to receive tailored support in advancing their export trade.
Senior Exports Manager (AHDB) and leader of the delegation, Dr. Awal Fuseini, emphasized the mutually beneficial nature of the mission and its goal of strengthening collaboration to enable meat importers to directly access supplies in the UK.
Dr. Fuseini underscored the benefits of improved genetics in animal breeds, which can help meet the deficit in meat supply in the UK and support Ghana’s Rearing for Food and Jobs Program to increase animal and meat production.
However, he stressed the importance of having the right feed, housing, and veterinary interventions to effectively commercialize production, stating,“There’s no point giving animals to a farmer who hasn’t got the right feed, right housing, and right veterinary interventions.”