Canada and Ghana's strong relationship is rooted in shared values - peace, democracy, and inclusive growth. These values guide Canada's longstanding development partnership with Ghana, which focuses on building a more equal, healthy, and prosperous future for all.
The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), yesterday concluded a successful, 2-day visit to Ghana. The visit highlighted Canada's continued commitment to supporting the people of Ghana - especially women, girls, and youth - through climate-smart agriculture, health care access, job training, and economic empowerment. Canada is also helping young people in Ghana learn job skills - especially in farming and non-traditional trades - so they can turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.
While in Ghana, Secretary Sarai announced Canada's support of $12.6 million to expand the EMPLOY project, a successful initiative in Ghana with World University Service of Canada (WUSC). The EMPLOY project will support more than 20,000 young women, as they build careers in well-paying trades such as welding, heavy machinery operation, solar panel installation, and auto mechanics.
During the announcement, he underscored Canada's support for several other initiatives announced earlier this year. These projects focus on helping women farmers scale up climate-smart agriculture initiatives, supporting women's rights organizations and feminist movements, improving access to reproductive health services and promoting peace and reducing violence in communities along Ghana's northern border with Côte d'Ivoire.
Secretary Sarai also had the opportunity to see firsthand how Canada and its partners are helping Ghanaians reach their full potential. He visited 2 major projects:
- The INVEST project, also in partnership with WUSC, challenges gender stereotypes by giving young women training and employment through internships, mentoring and scholarships, so they can pursue careers in non-traditional sectors, including construction, energy and information technology.
- The SURGE project, a partnership with Ashesi University, helps entrepreneurs launch and grow successful, sustainable green businesses.
As part of Canada's Modernizing Agriculture initiative, he met with women farmers who have been trained in new productivity-enhancing technologies and in better business approaches to farm management. This nation-wide initiative has already helped 3.5 million farmers. He also toured a Grand Challenges Canada project in Ashaiman that converts organic waste into renewable energy, using leftover materials as organic fertilizer. Finally, while visiting a Marie Stopes International (MSI) clinic, he spoke with patients and health professionals who deliver family planning and comprehensive abortion care services to the poorest and most underserved women and girls in 11 of Ghana's 16 regions.
During his visit, Secretary Sarai also held several bilateral meetings, including with Deputy Minister Food and Agriculture John Matthew Kofi Setor Dumelo. They discussed plans to grow the economy and support development, with a focus on agriculture. At a roundtable with the African Continental Free Trade Area, the conversation centered on economic security, the potential to drive trade, investment, income growth, job creation, and poverty reduction for the region and beyond. Secretary Sarai also met with representatives of the World Bank, EU and AfDB, as well as with peace and security stakeholders to discuss security challenges in the northern border regions.
