Ghana, Brazil deepen cooperation in critical sectors

Ghana and Brazil have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, energy, business and maritime security as the outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, Mariana Gonçalves Madeira, concludes her tour of duty.

Ambassador Madeira made the commitment when she paid a courtesy call on Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang at the Presidency in Accra as part of engagements marking the end of her diplomatic assignment in Ghana.

The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to review the longstanding relations between Ghana and Brazil and identify areas where the two countries could expand economic, agricultural and diplomatic cooperation.

Ambassador Madeira, who assumed office in Ghana in August 2024, commended the country for its democratic credentials and its role in promoting stability and regional cooperation in West Africa.

She said her tenure had enabled her to witness Ghana's peaceful transfer of political power as well as developments in the country's political and economic landscape.

According to the outgoing ambassador, Ghana and Brazil share several common interests, particularly in agriculture, energy, international diplomacy, climate change and efforts to address global food insecurity.

She called for stronger economic ties between the two countries, with particular emphasis on the cocoa sector.

Ambassador Madeira noted that Ghana and Brazil could benefit from increased cooperation in cocoa production, processing and value addition, creating new opportunities for smallholder farmers and businesses in both countries.

She also encouraged both countries to explore additional avenues for trade and investment, saying existing partnerships could serve as a foundation for broader economic cooperation.

Agriculture remains one of the key areas of potential cooperation between Ghana and Brazil, given the importance of the sector to both economies.

The ambassador suggested that greater collaboration in agricultural production and value addition could help improve productivity, expand markets and increase incomes for farmers.

For Ghana, deeper agricultural cooperation with Brazil could provide opportunities to learn from Brazil's experience in large-scale agricultural production, agro-processing and the development of agricultural value chains.

The two countries could also explore partnerships in technology, research, climate-smart agriculture and food processing as part of efforts to improve food security and strengthen the resilience of farmers.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang said Ghana's relationship with Brazil went beyond conventional South-South cooperation, describing the partnership as one built on shared history, culture and strong people-to-people connections.

She identified agriculture, business, energy, maritime security and multilateral cooperation as priority areas where Ghana and Brazil could deepen their relationship.

The Vice President welcomed Brazil's support for Ghana's development initiatives, including its collaboration with the government's Feed Ghana programme.

The Feed Ghana programme is aimed at strengthening domestic agricultural production, improving food security and creating opportunities across Ghana's agricultural value chains.

Brazil's experience in agricultural transformation and agro-industrial development could provide useful opportunities for knowledge-sharing and technical cooperation under the initiative.

Energy was also identified as an important area for stronger Ghana-Brazil cooperation.

Both countries have significant experience and interests in the energy sector, creating opportunities for investment, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Maritime security was similarly highlighted as an area of mutual interest, particularly given the importance of the Gulf of Guinea to regional trade and economic activity.

Closer cooperation could contribute to efforts to protect maritime trade routes, combat illegal activities at sea and strengthen security along West Africa's coastline.

The two countries also discussed their cooperation on international and multilateral issues.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang expressed appreciation for Brazil's support for Ghana on matters of international importance, including efforts to secure United Nations recognition of the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement as a crime against humanity.

She said Ghana and Brazil's shared historical experiences provided a strong foundation for cooperation in promoting justice, historical recognition and international solidarity.

The Vice President also thanked Ambassador Madeira for her contribution to strengthening Ghana-Brazil relations during her tenure and wished her well as she concludes her diplomatic assignment.

The engagement underscores the commitment of Ghana and Brazil to building a broader partnership focused on economic development, agriculture, energy, trade, maritime security and shared global challenges.

As Ambassador Madeira departs Ghana, both countries are expected to continue building on existing areas of cooperation while exploring new opportunities capable of increasing trade, investment and people-to-people ties.