Ghana Ready For Serious Partnership — Otumfuo Woos Canadian Investors
Ghana is prepared to move beyond aid and establish high-value commercial partnerships with Canada, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II declared on Tuesday at a high-level business gathering in Toronto.
Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the Beyond the World Cup Power Breakfast Meeting held at Woodbine Banquet Hall, the Asantehene made a strong pitch to Canadian business leaders, declaring that Ghana offers stable democratic governance, an energetic population, abundant natural resources, growing digital capacity, and strategic access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “Ghana is ready for a serious partnership,” Otumfuo stated, emphasising that this new era of economic engagement must be a two-way commercial affair combining Ghana’s market access and natural wealth with Canada’s pools of capital, cutting-edge technology, mining expertise, clean energy innovation, and institutional strength.
The event, held under the theme “Borderless Business: Connecting Ghana and Canada Through Trade, Investment, and Partnerships,” brought together business leaders, diplomats, and community stakeholders to discuss opportunities beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Untapped potential
While acknowledging that two-way trade between Ghana and Canada reached approximately 483 billion Canadian dollars in 2024, Otumfuo noted the relationship has not reached its full potential. “The relationship between Ghana and Canada is significant, but it has not reached its full potential,” he said, pointing to an uneven trade dynamic that must be structurally corrected.
The Monarch urged both nations to leverage their strong mutual goodwill into aggressive, high-value commercial enterprises that move beyond simple raw commodity trading. “Friendship must lead to greater ambition. Goodwill must become an enterprise. Enterprise must create jobs, jobs must provide dignity, and dignity must lead to peace and shared prosperity,” he remarked.
Redefining borderless business
Otumfuo used the platform to redefine modern global commerce, firmly asserting that true borderless business must never mean operations stripped of local accountability or investment devoid of conscience. “Borderless business does not mean business without responsibility. It must not be an investment without conscience. It must not be profit without people. It must be opportunity without exclusion, partnership without exploitation, and prosperity shared with dignity,” the Asantehene declared.
He cautioned international investors that global capital investments will fail to survive in Africa unless structurally anchored in local community dynamics and indigenous cultural realities. “Culture is economic infrastructure. Culture shapes trust. Culture shapes negotiation. Culture shapes community acceptance. Culture shapes leadership,” he explained, warning that investors who enter Ghana without understanding traditional governance, land tenure systems, and community dynamics operate with fundamentally incomplete market knowledge.
Diaspora challenge
The Asantehene issued a strong challenge to the Ghanaian diaspora in Canada to move beyond remittances and establish strategic corporate investments to accelerate development in Ghana. “The Ghanaian diaspora is one of the strongest bridges between our two countries. You carry Ghana in your hearts and Canada in your daily experience,” he said, describing them as the ultimate bilateral bridge between the two nations.
“Remittances are important, but they are not enough. We need diaspora investment funds, mentorship networks, professional exchanges, technology transfer, export partnerships, and partnerships in structured business platforms,” Otumfuo insisted.
Investment pipeline
The Asantehene proposed the establishment of a Ghana-Canada investment pipeline to identify credible and bankable projects in priority sectors, as part of a five-pronged recommendation for effective partnership.
Other proposals included creating a Diaspora Enterprise Fund to support Ghanaian-Canadian entrepreneurs, developing a youth innovation bridge linking Canadian and Ghanaian universities and technical institutions, and instituting a Ghana-Canada Trade and Culture Forum rotating between both countries.
He outlined opportunities across diverse sectors including agro-processing, food security, mining and mineral value addition, renewable energy, digital technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, housing, tourism, education, textiles, and creative industries. “I see opportunities for Canadian universities to partner with Ghanaian universities. I see opportunities for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to access Canadian markets, and I see opportunities for Canadian investors to support industrial power, clean energy, health infrastructure, and manufacturing,” he stated.
Notable attendees
Among those in attendance were H.E Myriam Montrat, Canada’s High Commissioner to Ghana; H.E Professor Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada; and Mrs Linda Vasnani, President of the Canada-Ghana Chamber of Commerce.
The Asantehene extended President John Dramani Mahama’s greetings to the gathering, further reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Canada.
The Power Breakfast Business Meeting was presented by the Ghanaian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Canada High Commission in Accra and the Ghana High Commission in Canada.
