{"id":90480,"date":"2025-08-20T04:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T04:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=90480"},"modified":"2025-08-20T04:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T04:48:00","slug":"mahama-touts-big-push-agenda-urges-japan-to-invest-in-energy-agribusiness-and-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=90480","title":{"rendered":"Mahama touts \u2018Big Push\u2019 agenda, urges Japan to invest in energy, agribusiness and manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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President John Mahama has called on Japanese businesses to seize investment opportunities in Ghana as part of the country\u2019s bold economic transformation agenda anchored on his proposed $10 billion \u201cBig Push\u201d initiative.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX) on Wednesday, Mahama said Ghana was a stable, democratic and business-friendly gateway to West Africa and the African continent.<\/p>\n

\u201cGhana is a stable, democratic, business-friendly gateway to West Africa and the continent. We have a growing consumer market with improving macroeconomic fundamentals, clear reforms to lower the cost of doing business, and abundant opportunities for technology transfer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He explained that Ghana\u2019s strategic geographical position, coupled with its role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), made it an ideal base for Japanese investors seeking to access regional and continental markets.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrategic geographical location. Ghana is a country through which the meridian and the UK intersect. The two intersect in Ghana\u2019s territory just a few kilometres from our shore, and it\u2019s also the host country for the African continental free trade area,\u201d Mahama said.<\/p>\n

Highlighting recent macroeconomic gains, the President pointed to falling inflation and a stabilised cedi, which he described as the world\u2019s best-performing currency this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cInflation rose to a high of almost 23% in 2024 and it\u2019s currently down to 13.7% and we expect that by the end of the year to hit single digit. And it\u2019s also our city has also stabilised. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor those of you who know the history of the Ghanaian city, it\u2019s been one of the most volatile currencies in Africa, and a few years back, we were said to be the worst-performing currency. I\u2019m happy to announce that this year, the Ghana cedi has been the best-performing currency in the world,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

Mahama also announced reforms to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act to remove barriers for smaller investors.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the reviewed Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act. We are removing those minimal capital investments. This will enable any investor, however little money you have \u2013 $100,000, $50,000 \u2013 to be able to come in and set up a business in Ghana,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Turning to priority sectors, Mahama urged Japanese companies to expand their footprint in agribusiness, automobile manufacturing, and energy, where Ghana holds a comparative advantage.<\/p>\n

\u201cJapan has a comparative advantage when it comes to automobile manufacturing. And like I said, using the opportunity to be able to export into not only our sub-region, but into Africa. Then Ghana becomes a good place for local assembly of automotive products,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

On agribusiness, Mahama referenced Ghana\u2019s abundant resources, including arable land, sunshine, and the Volta Lake, to highlight investment prospects in agro-processing and textiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have millions of hectares of land that border that huge lake, and the water can be used to bring about 2 million hectares of land under irrigation. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut also, we intend to establish industrial parks, you know, so that we can process agri products. We can invest in textile manufacture for export into the EU markets, into the American market and other places,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mahama further stressed Ghana\u2019s strong foundation in energy generation, underpinned by hydropower and gas-to-power production, which allows the country to sell surplus energy to neighbours at competitive costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur thermal plants are being run on gas. We\u2019re bringing new gas fields into operation. And because we are members of the West African Power Pool, energy transmission systems are interconnected with our neighbouring countries. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so any excess of power we\u2019re able to produce we can evacuate and sell to our neighbouring countries because we have a comparative advantage when it comes to power,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

He said the $10 billion \u201cBig Push\u201d programme would drive industrial growth, enhance food security, boost supply chains, and position Ghana as Africa\u2019s manufacturing and export hub.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur vision is anchored in our 10 billion big push. And the $10 billion big push is a program to improve the infrastructure of our country, especially in the road sector, in the industrial sector, agro agro-processing space and all that. So we\u2019re investing $2 billion a year in infrastructure development,\u201d Mahama stated.<\/p>\n

Calling for closer ties between Accra and Tokyo, Mahama urged Japanese investors to consider joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and collaborations with local firms.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said, we wish to because of the discipline, quality standards and industrial wisdom that Japanese businessmen have, we wish to encourage Japanese businessmen to look towards Ghana. Africa is the next frontier for investment. <\/p>\n

\u201cMost parts of the world are saturated when it comes to investment. Africa is opening up, growing, and is a place that Japan should be looking at. And so let us marry Japanese precision with Ghanaian potential and create a win-win situation for ourselves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mahama concluded by reaffirming his commitment to building a strong Ghana\u2013Japan partnership: \u201cGhana is open for business 24 hours a day, and at this decisive moment in our history. We\u2019re working towards the economic transformation of Ghana. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur nation is embracing a bold vision, one that harnesses innovation, industrialisation and regional integration to unlock the full potential of our people and our resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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