Singapore: President John Dramani Mahama and his Singaporean counterpart, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, have engaged in talks to bolster cooperation in sustainable development and value-added agriculture. The discussions centered on a groundbreaking carbon markets agreement and strategies to enhance agro-processing and employment opportunities in Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the bilateral discussions took place during President Mahama's three-day state visit to Singapore. A statement from Ghana's Presidency highlighted that this visit marks Singapore as the first Asian country to implement a carbon credit agreement with Ghana, positioning it as a facilitator for investment in low-carbon growth.
President Shanmugaratnam expressed Singapore's eagerness to collaborate in agribusiness and the downstream processing of products such as cashew and cocoa. He also acknowledged the challenge of job creation and emphasized Singapore's interest in supporting the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) alongside green and agro-industrial projects.
President Mahama outlined Ghana's focus on job creation through advancements in modern agriculture and services. He emphasized the potential for employment within agribusiness, which is a significant component of Ghana's Reset Agenda. He highlighted the Volta Economic Corridor as a key area for development, with over two million hectares of arable land available for agro-processing parks and irrigated lands.
Additionally, President Mahama pointed to the creative and digital services sector as a rapidly growing employment area for Ghana's youth, noting its capacity to generate jobs swiftly compared to traditional markets. He framed the partnership with Singapore as part of Ghana's broader role in Africa's economic integration under the AfCFTA. President Mahama also congratulated Singapore on its 60th anniversary of independence.
He concluded by stating that Ghana is stabilizing its economy and aims to transform this stability into sustainable, job-rich growth through green finance, downstream processing, and digital opportunities.
