On 8-10 April 2025, the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Petr Pavel, paid an official visit to Ghana. This visit had a significant economic dimension. It was the first official visit at this level in 60 years. The trip took place shortly after the appointment of the new Ghanaian President John Mahama and his new government, and the talks reflected the historically very good relations between the Czech Republic and Ghana, the current needs of the Czech Republic's economic policy, and the partners' long-term interest in diversifying the economy and modernizing infrastructure. The President of the Czech Republic was accompanied by a large business delegation consisting of representatives of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, representatives of Czech companies from the defense and security sector, and Czech companies SEDA Africa Group, HUTIRA, Knights, ESSA, LINET. 

During a series of meetings with the President and the Ministers of Finance, Defense, Health, Agriculture, Water Management, Roads and Highways, and representatives of the Chambers of Commerce, the Ghanaian side repeatedly indicated its interest in cooperation with Czech investors and potential suppliers of products and technologies in the above-mentioned sectors. 

Czech-Ghanaian Business Seminar 

The seminar, which was the main point of the business delegation's agenda, focused on finding further opportunities for developing business cooperation with an emphasis on key sectors such as agriculture and processing, water management/water purification and healthcare. The main business partners of the seminar were the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic and the Association of Ghana Industries. The Ghanaian side was represented by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority. The ceremonial opening of the seminar was attended by the President of the Czech Republic and the President of Ghana. 

After the introductory speeches by the presidents of both chambers, Ghanaian President John Mahama took the floor. In his speech, he highlighted the historically very good Czech-Ghanaian relations, especially economic cooperation, when Czechoslovak companies helped in the construction of light industry in Ghana in the 1960s - a shoe factory, glass, exchange of students and experts helped in the development of a number of skills and education, which are still in the memory of many Ghanaians. He therefore called on the entrepreneurs present to re-establish and develop these ties, which will be beneficial for both parties - Ghana as a safe and democratic country is an ideal and strategic place - manufacturing hub - for the entry of Czech companies and investments not only into the Ghanaian, but also into the entire West African market. In his speech, he also mentioned the key points of the government's program for the economic recovery of the country - 24/7 economy, which is intended to enable the start of the economic pace and direction of the country, create new jobs and ensure access to new technologies. Ghana's priority is to focus on creating an effective value chain. 

The key areas for Ghana remain the modernization of agriculture and the processing industry, the development of infrastructure, especially the transport network - construction of roads and bridges, tram networks; water purification and waste management - technologies and machines. Healthcare, the construction of healthcare infrastructure and the support of local pharmaceutical production are another goal of the new government. The new leadership is also responding to new technologies in the field of digitalization in finance - fintech and related cybersecurity are other areas of great importance and potential. Great emphasis is placed on investments, technology transfer and the support of local production. All of the above-mentioned areas provide Czech companies and investors with great opportunities to enter and apply themselves not only in the Ghanaian but also in the entire West African market. 

Czech President Petr Pavel assured the audience of the Czech Republic's efforts and interest in supporting and developing economic exchange and cooperation: "The task of politicians is to open the door to opportunities and create conditions so that entrepreneurs have the best starting position at the beginning of their journey to success." All areas of cooperation, from manufacturing to satellites, have a chance and opportunity for development in Ghana. Ghana is a safe and natural partner of the Czech Republic, our relations create an ideal space for concrete cooperation. He wished the entrepreneurs present much success on this journey. 

The business seminar then continued with presentations by Czech companies SEDA Africa Group, HUTIRA, Knights, ESSA and LINET. This was followed by B2B negotiations with numerous representatives of Ghanaian companies and associations (estimated at 120 people), which confirmed the potential for the development of bilateral business relations with their rich participation. 

Representatives of companies in the defense and security sector at the time of the business seminar, accompanied by the DEK of the Czech Embassy in Accra, presented their products as part of negotiations with the Ghanaian Minister of Defense Edward Omane Boamah and the Chief of Defense Staff, Maj. Gen. William Agyapong. This sector continues to be one of the main pillars of Czech-Ghanaian trade exchange and, with its scope and potential, still has much to offer Ghanaian partners.

Subsequently, the President of the Czech Republic visited Kpone, where, in the presence of the Minister of Health of Ghana, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, he inaugurated one of the 12 hospitals built by the Czech company VAMED Health Project CZ, s.r.o. This is the largest healthcare project implemented by a Czech company in the country. The project to build 12 turnkey regional hospitals with the scale of a small district hospital fulfilling basic functions is worth EUR 71.5 million. 

Another point on the program was the opening ceremony of the Czech House - a showroom of Czech technologies in Accra. Czech House serves as a hub for Czech companies to enter the Ghanaian market, with facilities, secretariat and legal advice, and its administrator is the Czech company SEDA Africa Group. The opening was attended by the Ministers of Labour and Water Management and Health, numerous representatives of the Ghanaian business sector, Ghanaian chambers of commerce and associations and the media, including social media. 

As part of the business delegation program, the Vice President of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, Mr. Radek Špicar, met with the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, during which they confirmed their interest in developing cooperation and fulfilling the MoU agreed in November 2023 during the visit of Prime Minister Fiala to Ghana. The parties exchanged up-to-date information on priorities in the field of export/import and steps towards the practical implementation of cooperation. The key point is securing the financing of the intended projects, which remains a challenge. 

The visit, which took place in a friendly spirit, was another successful materialization of Czech efforts to deepen relations with one of the very promising countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region, not only in terms of raw materials, with which it is worth maintaining good relations. 

 

 

Author: Mgr. Beata Matusiková, MBA, economic diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ghana