Ghana signs Mou with China to establish Economic and Trade Cooperation Project

BY Richmond Fordjour Ampofo
January 30, 2026

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China–Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council (CAETPC) to establish the China–Ghana Economic and Trade Cooperation Project Programme, aimed at deepening bilateral investment and economic cooperation.

The agreement was concluded during a high-level engagement by a Ghanaian delegation led by the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat (24H+), coordinated by the Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Mr. Augustus Goosie Tanoh, with participation from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Ministry of Finance, Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), and relevant sector ministries.

The MoU was signed a day after the delegation held strategic discussions with China’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Han Jun, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation to modernise Ghana’s agricultural sector under the Government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy policy.

The signing took place at the China–Ghana Economic and Trade Cooperation Project Promotion Conference, which also marked the inauguration of the GIPC China Liaison Office. The agreement is expected to enhance structured investor engagement, strengthen deal flow, and accelerate the development of bankable projects between Chinese enterprises and Ghanaian partners, in line with Ghana’s long-term development priorities.

Addressing prospective investors, the Chief Executive Officer of GIPC outlined Ghana’s improving macroeconomic fundamentals, highlighting the country’s return to single-digit inflation, a significant improvement from 28.3%. He underscored Ghana’s competitive investment incentives, resilient business ecosystem, market access advantages, and investor-friendly regulatory environment, assuring participants of strong and sustainable returns.

The delegation also presented the Volta Economic Corridor, a flagship initiative under the 24-Hour Economy Plus (24H+) Programme. Valued at US$500 million, the project is designed as a 24-hour, multi-modal transport and industrial corridor aimed at transforming the Volta River Basin by 2028, with projections to generate over 1.7 million jobs.

The corridor will feature modern inland water transport systems operating around the clock, supported by cargo terminals linking Ghana to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, thereby strengthening regional trade and logistics. It further includes the development of agro-ecological parks and processing hubs in areas such as Hohoe, Kpeve, and Sogakope, targeting value addition in rice, vegetables, and aquaculture while reducing post-harvest losses.

The Volta Economic Corridor is expected to reduce import dependency, boost export competitiveness, and enhance rural–urban economic integration, positioning Ghana as a strategic production and logistics hub within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. The initiative is backed by the Government of Ghana, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), with a strong emphasis on long-term sustainability and regional economic integration.