A Ghana Trade Mission comprising 28 delegates was hosted by the newly organized Ghanaian Canadian Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) under the auspices of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) on October 14, 2017 in Toronto which is the largest commercial city in Canada.

The event which took place at the elegant and spacious Marriott Hotel at the Airport Road was officially addressed by the new Ghana's High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Joseph Ayikoi Otoo.

Addressing the over 100 participants (both Ghanaian and Canadian business executives and professionals) at the 'meet and greet' function, His Excellency Ayikoi Otoo referred to his government's policy to develop the economy of Ghana "beyond aid" by promoting private investments in the country through her missions abroad.

The guest speaker then encouraged the Ghana Trade Mission visiting Canada to contract businesses with the Provinces of Canada since bilateral trade agreements between countries at sometimes suffer uncertainties from governments to governments. He cited the 'cloud now hanging over' the trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico due to the uncompromising attitude of the new Trump Administration in the US towards the trade treaty between these countries known as the NAFTA.

He lamented the lack of sufficient trade between Ghana and Canada in the areas of energy and manufacturing and advised private businesses in Ghana to enter into trade agreements with companies such as Bombardier and Algonquin in Canada.

In his introduction of the guest speaker at the function, the newly appointed Consul General of Ghana in Toronto, Honourable Seshi pointed out that 'a lot of private investments are taking place in Ghana's economy now' and that he would love to see many Ghanaians living in Canada becoming part of such initiative.

He praised the GCAO Executives for their hard work in mobilizing and leading Ghanaians living Toronto, in particular, and elsewhere in Canada for the development of the Ghanaian communities in Canada and for that of our motherland Ghana as a whole.

Welcoming the Ghana Trade Mission to Toronto, as well as all the participants to the function, the Infatiguable executive president of the GCAO Mr. Emmanuel Duodu traced the relatively young history of the Ghanaian Canadian Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) and its sister pillar, the Diaspora Engagement Think Tank (DETT) launched by the GCAO last July in Toronto aimed at bettering the lives of Ghanaians living in Canada and promoting businesses as well as offering mentorship to our vibrant youth populations. He described the launching of the GCCC and DETT as well as the hosting of the Ghana Trade Mission in Toronto under the auspices of the GCAO as historic and advised all Ghanaians in Canada and elsewhere to take advantage of such historic opportunities and help improve themselves and their communities by registering as members of the GCCC and the DETT.


Ghana Trade Mission conference at the Marriott Hotel in Toronto

He commended the Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce (Ghana) for bringing business opportunities to Canada and wished them well in their networking with businesses in Canada for the development of our motherland, Ghana.

During the presentation time, Mr. Frederick Attakumah who is the President of the Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce said that the current $100million per year trade between Canada and Ghana is not enough judging from the long time relationship between the two countries. He promised that through the private sector the trade balance between Ghana and Canada could grow to about $1billion per annum!

A memorandum of understanding was signed during function between the Ghanaian Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce to help improve businesses in both countries and promote trade between Canada and Ghana.

The networking of businesses present at the function was very dynamic and fruitful. The represented business sectors included shipping & logistics, real estate, agriculture & agri-business, construction, information & communications technology, hospitality, import & export, business consulting, and renewable energy.

The hostess of the event was Ms Ana Aidoo alias 'Eno Abena' who is an executive member of the GCCC.

The Ghana Trade Mission would spend one week in Canada visiting other cities such as Montreal and Ottawa.