Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare speaking at the Ghana National Day event in Japan on Thursday, September 11, 2025
Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has urged global investors at the ongoing Osaka World Expo 2025 to choose Ghana as their preferred investment destination in Africa.
Speaking at the Ghana National Day, event of the margins of Osaka World Expo 2025 in Japan, the Hon. Ministerstated, “Ghana remains a strategic entry point into the ECOWAS sub-region and an anchor for Africa-wide trade, hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat.”
According to the Hon. Minister, who is leading the Ghanaian delegation at the Expo, Ghana is committed to creating and sustaining a business environment that is transparent, predictable, and attractive to investors.
The Hon. Minister emphasized, “We want the world to know that Ghana is open for business, and more importantly, that Ghana is ready for partnership.”
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare noted that Ghana seeks to leverage its strategic location, political stability, talented youth, and Pan-African trade platforms to become Africa’s leading business destination.
She stated, “Ghana’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai is not simply about presence; it’s about purpose. It is a call to deepen old alliances and to forge new partnerships. It is a moment to reintroduce Ghana to the world, not only as a country of history and heritage, but as a country of boundless possibilities.”
She called on Expo participants to explore Ghana’s diverse investment opportunities across ICT, education, health, trade, agribusiness, industry, tourism, and culture.
She said the Government of Ghana, under the auspices of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, remains unwavering in its pursuit of economic transformation through industrialization, “guided by our private sector first approach.”
The Hon. Minister highlighted flagship initiatives being implemented by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, including the Accelerated Export Development Programme (AEDP), Feed the Industry Programme, Made-in-Ghana Programme Campaign, the Rapid Industrialization for Jobs Programme, the Women in Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Initiative, and the Free Apprenticeship Programme.
Meanwhile, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare affirmed the strength of the bilateral relationship between Ghana and Japan, stating, “The relationship between Ghana and Japan is built on decades of mutual respect and collaboration. Our two nations have nurtured a relationship that continues to flourish across trade, culture, development cooperation, and diplomacy.”
She noted that trade between Ghana and Japan has grown steadily, adding, “Primarily, goods exported from Ghana to Japan are cocoa, gold, coffee. Japan, in turn, continues to supply Ghana with world-class industrial and consumer goods, particularly in automotive, electronics and machinery. These exchanges not only represent economic value; they represent the trust and interdependence of our two nations.”
The Osaka World Expo 2025 is being held under the theme: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, supported by the sub-theme “Saving Lives, Empowering Lives and Connecting Lives.”
According to Hon. Ofosu-Adjare, the Osaka World Expo “mirrors the global desire for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future”, adding that “Ghana’s participation under the sub-theme Empowering Lives and our chosen national theme, ‘Ghana: A Country of Possibilities and Empowerment’, aligns deeply with this aspiration.”
On his part, Mr Shigeto Shikeyema, Vice Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition in Japan said relations between Ghana and Japan shares basic value of democracy and rule law.
Ghana and Japan since 1957 established diplomatic relations and have maintained good relationships, adding that Ghana is famous in Japan because Dr Noguchi first visited Ghana in 1927 and in the next two years will mark the 100 Anniversary and 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Japanese companies doing business in Ghana include Automobile, Agricultural and health and praised Ghana for maintaining cordial relations with Japan and the country’s participation in this year’s Osaka Expo.
The Ghana day event attracted hundreds of Japanese amidst rich Ghanaian performances.