Ghana and Vietnam strengthen cooperation in agribusiness, manufacturing, digital innovation, renewable energy

Ghana and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam have taken a significant step toward strengthening their longstanding diplomatic and economic ties following the successful maiden edition of the Ghana–Viet Nam Political Consultations, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.

The high-level meeting, hosted on Thursday, July 2, 2026, brought together senior government officials from both countries to review bilateral relations, discuss regional and international developments, and explore new opportunities for cooperation in key sectors of their economies.

The consultations concluded with the signing of a Visa Exemption Agreement for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports, a landmark development expected to facilitate official engagements and deepen institutional collaboration between the two nations.

Leading Ghana's delegation, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs James Gyakye Quayson described the inaugural political consultations as a historic milestone that would provide a structured platform for sustained dialogue and enhanced cooperation.

He expressed Ghana's admiration for Viet Nam's remarkable economic transformation over the past decades, noting that the Asian nation offers valuable lessons in industrialisation, export-led growth and economic development.

According to the Deputy Minister, Ghana is keen to expand collaboration with Viet Nam in several strategic sectors that are critical to the country's economic transformation agenda.

These include agribusiness, manufacturing, digital innovation, renewable energy, infrastructure development, tourism, investment promotion, skills development and technology transfer.

He further emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation within regional and international organisations to promote peace, sustainable development and the collective interests of developing nations.

In his opening remarks, James Gyakye Quayson welcomed the Vietnamese delegation and highlighted the historical significance of the meeting, noting that it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the peace mission undertaken by Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, to Viet Nam.

He described the historic visit as a lasting symbol of Ghana's commitment to international peace, solidarity and cooperation among developing countries.

The Deputy Minister observed that Ghana and Viet Nam have over the years built a strong relationship founded on mutual respect, sovereign equality and South-South cooperation.

He noted that collaboration between the two countries has expanded across several sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, education, trade, technical cooperation and capacity building.

According to him, the newly established Political Consultation mechanism will institutionalise regular diplomatic engagement, strengthen mutual understanding and create new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Lê Anh Tuấn, who expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to his delegation.

He described the inaugural consultations as an important step toward strengthening the longstanding friendship between Ghana and Viet Nam.

The Vietnamese Deputy Minister also conveyed his country's condolences to the Government and people of Ghana following the recent floods that claimed lives and caused widespread destruction in parts of the country.

Mr. Lê Anh Tuấn commended Ghana for its achievements in economic diversification, improving living standards and promoting regional integration across Africa.

He reaffirmed Viet Nam's commitment to a foreign policy anchored on peace, friendship, international cooperation, multilateralism and diversified global partnerships.

Highlighting the growing economic relationship between the two countries, the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister disclosed that bilateral trade exceeded US$1 billion in 2025, making Ghana Viet Nam's fourth-largest trading partner in Africa.

He noted that Ghana remains one of Viet Nam's most important partners in West Africa and expressed his country's readiness to deepen cooperation through government-to-government engagements, parliamentary exchanges and stronger people-to-people relations.

He also stressed the need for both countries to work more closely in addressing global challenges while strengthening their voices within regional and international institutions.

During the consultations, officials from both countries held extensive discussions on political cooperation, high-level diplomatic exchanges, trade and investment, technical collaboration and multilateral affairs.

The two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding cooperation in sectors that support economic growth, sustainable development and mutual prosperity.

Officials also explored practical measures to strengthen partnerships in education, innovation, infrastructure development, renewable energy and skills training.

A major outcome of the maiden Ghana–Viet Nam Political Consultations was the signing of an agreement granting visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.

The agreement is expected to facilitate official travel, strengthen institutional cooperation and promote closer diplomatic engagement between both governments.

Officials from Ghana and Viet Nam expressed confidence that the agreement will further deepen the longstanding friendship between the two countries while opening new avenues for collaboration in trade, investment, technology and development.

The successful conclusion of the consultations signals a renewed commitment by both nations to elevate bilateral relations and pursue closer cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual interest.