The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur Esq., has intensified Ghana’s export drive to Europe with an official visit to the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain in Ghana.
Mr. Arthur, who was received by the Economic Head of the Office, Mr. Fernando Santamarta, and members of his team, held high-level discussions aimed at strengthening economic and commercial cooperation between Ghana and Spain.
The meeting, held in Accra, focused on practical avenues to promote Ghanaian products, expand market access for exporters, and consolidate the growing trade relations between the two countries.
At the centre of discussions was Ghana’s planned participation in the upcoming Fruit Attraction trade fair in Spain, one of the world’s leading international platforms for the fresh produce and horticulture industry.
Fruit Attraction, held annually in Madrid, brings together thousands of exhibitors, buyers, distributors and industry stakeholders from over 130 countries. For Ghana, which is aggressively positioning horticulture as a major foreign exchange earner, the fair presents a critical opportunity to showcase its pineapples, mangoes, yams, chillies, and other high-value horticultural products.
Mr. Arthur underscored GEPA’s mandate to diversify Ghana’s export basket beyond traditional commodities and to drive the “Export Ghana, Export More” agenda. He noted that Spain, as a major gateway to the European Union market, remains a strategic partner for Ghana’s non-traditional exports, particularly in the horticulture sector.
“Our engagement with the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain is part of our deliberate effort to open more doors for Ghanaian exporters. The European market has enormous appetite for quality Ghanaian horticultural produce, and platforms like Fruit Attraction are essential to connecting our exporters to the right buyers and investments.”
Mr.Arthur
Mr. Santamarta welcomed GEPA’s proactive approach and reaffirmed the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office’s commitment to supporting stronger commercial ties between Ghana and Spain.
He indicated the Office’s readiness to facilitate information sharing, business-to-business engagements, and technical cooperation that would make it easier for Ghanaian products to meet European market standards and requirements.
Ghana Eyes Europe to Boost Horticulture Exports
The engagement comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to leverage trade agreements and bilateral relations to boost its non-traditional export earnings. Data from GEPA shows that horticultural products remain one of Ghana’s fastest-growing non-traditional export categories, with significant untapped potential in Europe.
Beyond Fruit Attraction, the two parties also discussed broader opportunities for sustained collaboration, including joint trade promotion activities, capacity building for exporters, and continuous dialogue to identify and remove barriers to trade.
The meeting underscored the critical role of institutional cooperation in driving sustainable export-led growth and strengthening bilateral economic ties. Both the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office emphasized that closer collaboration between trade support institutions is essential to unlocking new opportunities for businesses and addressing practical challenges faced by exporters.
GEPA Spain Office to Remove Trade Barriers for Ghanaian Products
The two institutions agreed to maintain continuous dialogue to identify and remove barriers to trade, harmonize market requirements, and facilitate smoother entry for Ghanaian products into the Spanish and broader European markets.
They further committed to translating the discussions into concrete, actionable outcomes that will deliver tangible benefits for businesses on both sides, particularly Ghanaian SMEs seeking to scale their exports.
GEPA, under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur Esq., has in recent months intensified strategic stakeholder engagements with diplomatic missions, development partners, and private sector bodies as part of a renewed drive to reposition Ghana as a competitive and reliable sourcing hub for made-in-Ghana products.
The engagements form part of the Authority’s broader strategy to diversify the country’s export portfolio, deepen commercial diplomacy, and create sustainable market linkages for Ghanaian exporters, particularly in high-growth sectors such as horticulture, agro-processing, textiles and handicrafts.
These high level interactions are geared towards unlocking new trade and investment opportunities, enhancing Ghana’s visibility in international markets, and aligning GEPA’s export development programmes with global market demands and standards.
The Authority is expected to lead a delegation of Ghanaian exporters and sector associations, including the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), to Fruit Attraction 2026, where Ghana aims to secure new orders, attract investment into value addition, and reinforce its reputation as a reliable supplier of premium tropical produce.
Ghana’s trade relations with Spain have shown steady growth, with increasing interest from Spanish businesses in Ghana’s agriculture, agro-processing and manufacturing sectors. The latest engagement is seen as a step toward deepening that partnership and creating more opportunities for Ghanaian small and medium enterprises to scale into the European market.
READ ALSO:Abolishing Free SHS Won’t Fix Basic Education Funding — Kwarteng
