The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured Japanese business leaders of a stable and protected environment to attract foreign investment.
Speaking at the Presidential Investment Forum in Yokohama, Japan, on Tuesday, he noted that macroeconomic stability has been restored, citing the Ghanaian cedi’s performance as one of the world’s strongest currencies.
He affirmed that Ghana’s credit standing has been raised by sovereign rating agencies, putting economic diplomacy at the centre of Ghana’s foreign policy initiatives.
“Ghana is not merely a market of 30 million people; it is a strategic gateway to the entire African continent, offering investors access to over 1.3 billion consumers under the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he added.
Mr. Ablakwa assured Japanese investors that their investments in Ghana will be safeguarded and deliver strong returns.
“We are no longer in the junk status and no longer a bankrupt country,” he added.
According to the minister, a key mandate given to the Foreign Ministry is prioritising “economic diplomacy.” This shift will be formalised on September 1st with the launch of a new system. For the first time in Ghana’s history, the President will introduce Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all Ghanaian ambassadors and diplomats.
The Minister confirmed that economic diplomacy forms the central pillar of these KPIs, aiming to ensure that diplomacy drives investment, job creation, improved livelihoods, and security for investors.
Mr. Ablakwa said the government has honoured all international agreements inherited from the previous administration.
He noted that Japanese automotive firms, including Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki, are thriving and expanding their operations in Ghana without adversely affecting existing contracts.
The Minister commended the Japanese government for its lack of trade tariffs against Ghana and for supporting social development projects, such as the Volta Bridge and Tamale Electricity Expansion initiatives.
The minister is part of a high-level delegation led by President John Dramani Mahama to the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9).
The Presidential Investment Forum was organised on the sidelines of TICAD to attract and secure Japanese investments to Ghana.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
