The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI) has intensified its efforts to diversify Ghana’s international trade portfolio through a strategic engagement with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.
By hosting a four-member business delegation from the UAE, the Ministry has signaled a critical move toward formalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The discussions centered on transforming Ghana into a high-capacity production hub capable of servicing both the Middle Eastern and broader Asian markets.
Led by Ms. Sumaya Al Shamsi, Director of International Partnerships at the Dubai Chamber, the delegation identified Ghana as one of only two African nations selected for its 2026 global outreach program.
“The Chamber annually selects two key destination countries for business outreach, and for 2026, Ghana and Ethiopia were chosen, with Ghana as the first destination.
“We expect a 20-member business delegation across several sectors in May to feature plenary sessions and B2B meetings with Ghanaian businesses to deepen this bilateral cooperation”
Ms. Sumaya Al Shamsi, Director of International Partnerships at the Dubai Chamber
This strategic selection reflects a significant 75% increase in non-oil trade between Dubai and Ghana recorded over the past two years. The visit serves as a precursor to a larger 20-member trade mission scheduled for May 18-19, 2026, which will bring medium-to-large scale UAE firms to Accra for sector-specific B2B sessions.
Leveraging Global Market Access
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the sector minister, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Noah Tumfo, pitched Ghana’s unique geostatistical advantage. He emphasized that the government is not merely seeking a buyer-seller relationship but is focused on value addition and industrial substitution.
Mr. Tumfo highlighted that investors in Ghana gain preferential access not only to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) but also to the European and American markets through existing trade protocols.
“Ghana has strong investment appeal, citing preferential market access to the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, and the broader African market through the AfCFTA. Ongoing engagements will soon grant Ghana duty-free and quota-free access to the Chinese market, presenting additional opportunities for investors seeking expanded market reach”
Mr. Noah Tumfo, Chief Director of MoTAI
A significant highlight of the presentation was the mention of impending duty-free and quota-free access to the Chinese market.
This development, part of the Mahama administration’s “Resetting for Growth,” agenda, positions Ghana as a competitive bridge for UAE investors looking to manufacture goods locally for re-export to China under zero-tariff arrangements.
Cocoa and Agribusiness
MoTAI noted that it is particularly keen on steering UAE capital toward cocoa value addition. While Ghana remains a global leader in raw cocoa production, the Ministry’s current policy shift aims to ensure that a greater percentage of the crop is processed domestically.
Mr. Tumfo encouraged the Dubai delegation to consider establishing specialized cocoa processing factories, which would benefit from the 24-hour operational cycle and enhanced business regulatory reforms currently being implemented.
The Ministry’s “Feed the Industry,” program, a cornerstone of the 2026 industrial roadmap, is designed to support such ventures by providing reliable raw material streams and streamlined licensing. The goal is to move the nation away from raw commodity exports and toward becoming a leading exporter of finished consumer goods to the Gulf region.
According to Mr. Tumfo, the upcoming May mission is expected to be a watershed moment for Ghana-UAE relations. It will include a keynote address by Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and is designed to move beyond diplomatic dialogue into bankable project agreements.
Senior officials, including Mr. Ebo Quaison, Director for Trade Development, and Mr. Cyril Darkwa, Chief Representative for West Africa at the Dubai Chamber, are already working on the technical modalities to ensure the B2B sessions yield immediate results.
By integrating these international partnerships into the 24-Hour Economy framework, the Ministry intends to maximize the productivity of new industrial clusters. The CEPA, once concluded, is expected to provide the legal and fiscal protections necessary to sustain long-term Emirati investment in Ghana’s infrastructure and agribusiness sectors.
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