News Ghana, 3 February 2026
Ghana, Dubai chamber discuss economic partnership agreement
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry held talks Tuesday with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce as both sides seek to broaden economic ties and advance negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The meeting, held in Accra, focused on deepening bilateral trade and investment cooperation as Ghana looks to diversify its international business engagements beyond traditional partners. Officials said a CEPA with the UAE could significantly expand trade flows and private sector investment between the two economies.
The Dubai Chamber delegation was led by Sumaya Al Shamsi, Director of International Partnerships, who said the Chamber annually selects two destination countries for targeted business outreach. For 2026, Ghana and Ethiopia were chosen, with Ghana serving as the first stop.
Al Shamsi disclosed that a 20-member business delegation, comprising medium to large scale companies across multiple sectors, is expected in Accra from May 18 to May 19, 2026. The visit is planned to include plenary sessions and business-to-business meetings with Ghanaian firms, alongside a proposed keynote address by Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the minister, the ministry’s Chief Director Noah Tumfo said Ghana is prioritising trade diversification, value addition and the development of production hubs that can serve both the UAE market and wider Asian demand. He highlighted Ghana’s investment appeal, citing preferential access to the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as access to the African market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Tumfo also pointed to ongoing engagements expected to secure duty-free and quota-free access to the Chinese market, potentially expanding export opportunities for investors operating from Ghana. The ministry outlined regulatory reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, with a particular focus on cocoa value addition.
Officials encouraged UAE investors to explore opportunities in cocoa processing and export, aligning with Ghana’s broader push to move up the agricultural value chain. Senior officials from both sides attended the meeting, including the ministry’s Director for Trade Development Ebo Quaison and the Dubai Chamber’s Chief Representative for West Africa Cyril Darkwa, as preparations continue for deeper commercial engagement later this year.
The Dubai Chamber launched its 2026 In Focus series in January, aimed at supporting local companies seeking expansion opportunities in Ethiopia, Ghana and South Africa. The event drew more than 228 participants and provided an overview of trade and investment prospects across the three African markets.
The session marked the introduction of the New Horizons initiative, which enables Dubai-based companies to participate in curated trade missions to selected international markets. As part of the programme, Dubai Chamber will organise trade missions to Ethiopia, Ghana and South Africa during the first half of this year, alongside business matchmaking events and investment-focused meetings.
Ofosu-Adjare has emphasised that industrialisation will remain elusive if African producers continue to face multiple and duplicative standards regimes across the continent, noting that the lack of harmonised standards raises costs, delays trade and weakens competitiveness under AfCFTA. She has called for intentional policies to ensure steady raw material availability, citing key challenges including securing land for industrial use and struggles with unreliable input supplies.
The minister stressed during the Africa Trade Summit 2026 in Accra that government is backing policies to support industry through access to raw materials, harmonised standards, affordable financing and regional value chains as Africa seeks to convert extraction into value and build industrial champions. She identified textiles, renewable energy and digital infrastructure as priority sectors requiring aggressive investment promotion.
Ghana has been working to strengthen trade relationships with Gulf states as part of its economic diversification strategy. The country seeks to leverage its strategic position in West Africa and preferential market access agreements to attract foreign direct investment in manufacturing and agro-processing sectors.
The planned May visit will provide an opportunity for direct engagement between Ghanaian businesses and potential UAE investors across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy and technology. Both sides expressed commitment to building long-term commercial partnerships that support industrial development and economic transformation.
