Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has held talks with British High Commissioner to Ghana, Christian Rogg, on strengthening economic cooperation between Ghana and the United Kingdom, with particular emphasis on trade, investment, job creation and women’s empowerment.
The discussions centred on human development and economic empowerment, which the Vice President identified as important measures of the partnership’s impact. She stressed the need for bilateral cooperation to deliver tangible benefits, including opportunities for businesses, sustainable employment and greater participation in international markets.
“On economic cooperation, we reflected on the evolving relationship between our countries and the importance of partnerships that promote trade, investment, enterprise and sustainable job creation. Our discussions also considered opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to participate more meaningfully in value addition and international markets, and the need to adapt our bilateral and multilateral partnerships to changing global realities,” she stated.
The meeting took place as President John Dramani Mahama was in the United Kingdom for the Financial Times Africa Summit, where he also engaged UK parliamentarians and members of the House of Lords at a cross-party parliamentary meeting in London. He separately held discussions with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on expanding trade and strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
In Accra, the Vice President’s engagement with the British High Commissioner brought attention to Ghana’s industrial ambitions, particularly efforts to expand local value addition and improve the access of Ghanaian businesses to international markets. The discussions also considered how Ghana and the UK could align their bilateral and multilateral interests with changing global economic and political realities.
Job creation was another key issue, against the backdrop of Ghana’s youthful population and the need to expand employment opportunities. With a median age of about 21, Ghana faces growing pressure to ensure that economic growth translates into decent work and opportunities for young people.
The Vice President also highlighted women’s empowerment and gender equality, linking these priorities to Ghana’s broader development agenda. As the country’s first female Vice President, she has a prominent role in discussions on women’s participation in public life and economic activity.
The conversation also touched on the importance of legislative frameworks, including the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, in advancing women’s representation and access to opportunities.
Ghana and the United Kingdom maintain longstanding diplomatic, trade and development ties, reinforced by their shared membership of the Commonwealth. Their cooperation spans trade and investment, education, governance, security and development. Both countries have continued to explore ways to deepen commercial relations and expand opportunities for businesses, making value addition, investment and job creation important areas for future engagement.
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