Last week, Premier Helen Zille led a successful business delegation on a trade mission in Ghana.
The delegation was facilitated by the Western Cape’s Investment Promotion Agency, Wesgro. It included a diversified group of 22 Western Cape-based companies.
Ghana is West Africa’s second largest economy, and Africa’s twelfth largest.
Premier Zille addressed a business seminar attended by over 100 companies, where she highlighted the Western Cape’s priority economic sectors under the provincial economic strategy, Project Khulisa.
“We were pleased to share our economic vision with our Ghanaian counterparts. As two leading nations on the continent, we identified possible areas of collaboration between our governments and businesses, going forward,” said Premier Zille.
“Our province’s exports to Africa are currently worth an estimated R45.13 billion annually. We intend to harness further growth opportunities with Ghana as a key partner. Ghana’s vision to lift itself out of the developing world into a world-class nation is reassuring. It is an indication that they are open for business and we would like to take advantage of the opportunities it presents for the Western Cape,” Premier Zille said.
Other key business engagements included attending the Ghana Economic Forum Conference, meeting with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and a visit to the Tema Port that is currently undergoing a major revamp.
Wesgro Chief Business Officer Yaw Peprah said: “This mission to Ghana demonstrates the Western Cape's determination to continue building on our relationship with the rest of the continent through dialogue, as well as affording our companies the platform to network and secure investment and trade deals. One of our meetings in Accra had over 100 Ghanaian delegates present, and we hope that this will result in further trade for both regions. Wesgro will continue to look for ways to expand the relationship even further, so that we maximise on the opportunities that growing economies, like Ghana, present.”
Premier Zille also met several Ghanaian dignitaries, including the Minister of Children, Gender and Social Protection, Hon. Otiko Afisah Djaba. An invitation was extended to the Minister’s team to visit the Western Cape in order to share best practice and exchange further ideas.
Premier Zille paid courtesy calls to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, and the Mayor of Kumasi, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, among other dignitaries.
“It was particularly enlightening to meet with key ministers in government who had a firm grasp of their mandate and expressed a willingness to work with us going forward. I have no doubt that Ghana will continue to be a leading nation on the continent as it builds a thriving society underpinned by democratic values and systems,” said Zille.
As part of the trip, Premier Zille also attended the fifth annual African Network for Evidence-to-Action in Disability (AfriNEAD) Conference, held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The conference was hosted in partnership with the University of Stellenbosch.
The Premier delivered a keynote address on the subject: The role of government in supporting people with disabilities: reflections from the Western Cape Government, South Africa. The Premier gave insights on the leading role the Western Cape is playing in disability inclusion across all sectors of society.
Michael Mpofu
Spokesperson for Premier Helen Zille
071 564 5427
021 483 4584
Michael.Mpofu@westerncape.gov.za