Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Professor Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, has unveiled an ambitious strategy to recalibrate bilateral trade relations, prioritising agribusiness value addition, artificial intelligence ( AI) partnerships and clean energy collaboration as pillars of a deeper economic engagement between the two countries.
The approach represents a shift from traditional commodity-led trade toward technology-driven and investment-focused cooperation, at a time when Ghana is seeking to diversify export earnings and Canada is expanding its commercial footprint across African markets.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Business & Financial Times, Professor Edu-Buandoh said she has already begun engagements with provincial governments and business leaders in Nova Scotia, underscoring a deliberate strategy to navigate Canada’s federal economic structure.
“To strengthen relations with Canada, I need to go into the provinces because Canada has a federal system,” she explained. “Each province has its strengths in various trades. I will tap into these unique strengths while working with the federal government to strengthen the overarching relationship between our two countries,” she explained.
Trade snapshot underscores growth potential
Ghana is currently Canada’s fifth-largest bilateral trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and eighth-largest on the continent. Two-way trade reached US$483million in 2024, comprising Canadian exports valued at US$316million and imports of US$166million.
Canada’s exports to Ghana are dominated by cereals and vehicles, while imports are concentrated in cocoa and soya beans—highlighting the continued reliance on primary commodities in Ghana’s export profile.
Beyond merchandise trade, Canadian mining assets in Ghana were estimated at US$1.1billion in 2023, making Canada one of the most significant foreign players in the West Africa nation’s extractive sector. However, the High Commissioner’s agenda suggests a conscious effort to broaden this engagement beyond mining.
Agribusiness and value addition at the core
Agribusiness modernisation sits at the centre of Professor Edu-Buandoh’s economic diplomacy. She stressed the urgency of shifting away from raw commodity exports toward value-added agricultural production supported by technology and investment.
“We need to tap into new technologies and add value to our agriculture so we can grow and process more agricultural produce and export more to international markets,” she said, adding that Ghana’s abundant land resources could serve as equity in partnerships with Canadian firms.
This focus aligns with Ghana’s broader industrialisation agenda and efforts to strengthen agro-processing value chains to stabilise farmer incomes and expand export revenues.
AI and clean energy partnerships
Artificial intelligence has also been identified as a strategic growth lever. Describing AI as “the new language for manufacturing and education”, Professor Edu-Buandoh said Ghana must leverage Canada’s deep expertise by fostering partnerships between businesses and educational institutions.
Her third priority—clean and renewable energy—mirrors Ghana’s evolving energy policy direction. Canada’s experience in tidal, wind and other renewable technologies, she noted, complements Ghana’s solar potential, particularly under President John Mahama’s recently initiated solar energy policy.
“We have the sun in abundance,” she said, adding that her mission would actively seek Canadian partners in the energy sector to support Ghana’s transition to sustainable power.
Beyond trade and investment, the High Commissioner’s mandate includes engaging with Canada’s diplomatic community and international organisations in Ottawa to amplify Ghana’s voice on global issues such as climate resilience, peace, democracy and sustainable development.
At the end of her tenure, Professor Edu-Buandoh said she hopes to be remembered for strengthening relationships that deliver tangible benefits for Ghanaians at home and in the Canadian diaspora, particularly in trade, agribusiness, education and culture.
Her appointment comes as Ghana looks to reposition itself within a rapidly shifting global trade environment, while Canada deepens engagement with African economies offering strong anticipated GDP growth and expanding opportunities across clean technology, infrastructure, ICT and education.
Source : bft.com
