The Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Growth and Trade Relations Chamber (GNEBCham) successfully hosted its first webinar on Thursday, January 28, 2024, focusing on “Navigating the U.S. Business Landscape: A Nebraska–Ghana Agribusiness and Trade Event Webinar.”
The webinar brought together over 150 participants, including policymakers, agribusiness experts, and key stakeholders from both Ghana and Nebraska. It explored opportunities for enhancing agribusiness and trade relations between the two regions.
Former Nebraska State Senators Colby Coash and Ken Schilz, who is also the co-founder of the Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Growth and Trade Relations Chamber (GNEBCham), moderated the webinar.
The event provided a platform for insightful discussions on fostering stronger agricultural trade partnerships and navigating the importance of doing business in America with American counterparts.
Strengthening Agricultural Partnerships Between Ghana and Nebraska
Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Co-founder of GNEBCham, underscored the significance of strengthening economic and agricultural ties between the two regions.
She highlighted the cattle sector as an area of interest, emphasizing the potential for Nebraska’s expertise in livestock management to contribute to Ghana’s agricultural development.
“We are looking into how we can strengthen the relationships between Ghana and Nebraska, particularly exploring opportunities in the cattle sector,” Akosa stated.
Ms Alberta noted that Nebraska’s advanced livestock farming techniques could be leveraged to improve Ghana’s cattle production, boost meat exports, and create sustainable employment opportunities within the sector.
Opportunities for Ghana’s Export Market
Cynthia L. Allen, Deputy Secretary of State for International Trade, State of Nebraska, spoke about Ghana’s economic potential and the need for stronger trade partnerships. She also acknowledged Ghana’s export strengths in cocoa, gold, and timber, suggesting that Nebraska could increase its imports from the West African nation to create mutual economic benefits.
“I know that Ghana exports a lot of cocoa, gold, and timber. I think that we need to come together as the United States to import more of these into Nebraska,” she said.
Cynthia L. Allen further commended Ghana’s strategic role in regional trade, noting its membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a critical advantage for global business partnerships.
Regional Economic Development and Collaboration
Angie Baber, Director of Economic Development at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, in her presentation, emphasized the importance of collaboration over competition when it comes to regional trade. She explained that Nebraska’s approach to economic development focuses on shared benefits rather than geographical divisions, a model that could be replicated in Ghana’s agribusiness landscape.
“Our goal is that we don’t see county lines, we don’t see all that division. We all work together. What’s good for any of the counties is great for us and then also great for Nebraska,” Baber remarked. She noted that a similar approach in Ghana could promote inclusivity in agribusiness, encouraging collective growth rather than isolated success.
Agriculture as the Backbone of Ghana’s Economy
Eric Hudson Asamani, Greater Accra Regional Director for Agriculture, provided an in-depth perspective on the significance of agriculture to Ghana’s economy. He emphasized that agriculture contributes between 20% to 25% of Ghana’s GDP and remains a key employment driver, engaging nearly 60% of the country’s workforce.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, contributing significantly—about 20% to 25% to GDP—and offering a lot of employment—about 60% of the workforce. Without agriculture, our economy would struggle to thrive,” Asamani stated. He called for increased investments in agribusiness, highlighting the potential for Nebraska to share technological innovations, best practices, and training programs that could modernize Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Pathway to a Stronger Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Partnership
The webinar concluded with a shared commitment from both Ghanaian and Nebraskan stakeholders to explore innovative ways of deepening agribusiness trade relations. The discussions underscored the importance of technology transfer, investment in agribusiness, and policy reforms that would facilitate trade between the two regions.
Participants expressed optimism that GNEBCham would continue to serve as a bridge, fostering sustainable agricultural trade partnerships that benefit both economies. Future engagements are expected to explore more sector-specific collaborations, including capacity building, financing opportunities, and infrastructural development to support agribusiness growth.
The success of this inaugural webinar sets the stage for continuous engagement between Ghana and Nebraska, ensuring that both regions maximize the vast opportunities available in agribusiness trade and economic development.
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