Business News of Friday, 22 April 2016

Source: starrfmonline.com

Ghana-UK trade hits £1.3bn

The UK envoy Jon Benjamin with guests at the birthday party The UK envoy Jon Benjamin with guests at the birthday party

Trade between Ghana and the United Kingdom has reached £1.3 billion, according to latest statistics.

Ghana is currently the UK’s fifth largest trade partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at an event to mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth in Accra, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, said British companies still have confidence in Ghana and continue to invest in the West African country.

He also added that the British companies continue to form partnerships with Ghanaian ones to create jobs, build local capacity and expertise in sectors such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, oil and gas and financial, legal and professional services.

“I believe that the partnership between our two countries will only enhance our progress. Together we are better; together we are stronger; and only together can we create a more prosperous future for the UK/Ghana relationship,” Benjamin said.

On his part, Ghana’s Trade and Industry Minister Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah called on British firms to invest more in Ghana due to the relative economic stability being enjoyed as a result of a three-year IMF programme.

Over the past year, the UK provided well over £100 million in bilateral and multilateral development assistance to Ghana, focusing on health, education, governance and economic development.