The government of Ghana is seeking strategic partnerships with resource-rich countries to support its railway transformation agenda. This initiative aims to drive industrialisation and job creation in the country. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the government is targeting countries with the financial capacity and technical expertise to partner Ghana in the rail sector.
Ghana has made significant progress in road and bridge construction, and now seeks to replicate this success in the railway sector. Mr Ablakwa was speaking on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where he held a series of bilateral meetings. He highlighted the country's achievements in infrastructure development, stating that Ghana is moving in a strategic direction, signing bilateral agreements to establish new opportunities.
Mr Ablakwa has met with counterparts from Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, describing them as big players with the liquidity to support President John Mahama's agenda for railway transformation. These countries have the potential to support Ghana's development plans, particularly in adding value to its natural resources and building more factories. The minister emphasised the need for strategic partners to help Ghana achieve its goals.
In addition to Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, Mr Ablakwa has lined up meetings with Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and Germany. These countries are considered strategic partners that could support Ghana's development agenda. The minister is optimistic about the potential outcomes of these meetings, which aim to deliver concrete results for Ghana's citizens.
The bilateral drive is complementing Ghana's multilateral leadership on reparative justice and preparations towards assuming the African Union chairmanship. This has attracted interest from many countries about Ghana's vision for the continent. Mr Ablakwa has been sharing Ghana's AU strategic document with his counterparts, highlighting the country's commitment to regional leadership.
Ghana is also signing labour mobility agreements, visa waiver agreements, scholarship opportunities, and trade and investment agreements with its strategic partners. The government aims to ensure that its natural resources are no longer exported in raw form without adding value. Mr Ablakwa has curated over 20 bilateral meetings with big, well-resourced actors to ensure win-win outcomes.
The minister emphasised that the government's focus is on delivering concrete results for its citizens, including job creation, industrialisation, and real development. He stated that the bilateral meetings are not just about handshakes or photo opportunities, but about achieving tangible outcomes. The government is committed to achieving its development goals through strategic partnerships with resource-rich countries.
Key points
- Ghana seeks partnerships with countries like Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia to support its railway transformation agenda.
- The government aims to add value to its natural resources and create jobs through strategic partnerships.
- Ghana is also pursuing labour mobility agreements, visa waiver agreements, and trade and investment agreements with its strategic partners.
