Ghana and Denmark have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a focus on trade, investment, technology transfer and industrial development, following a meeting between the Foreign Policy Committee of the Danish Parliament and Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson.
The discussions took place on October 27, 2026, when the Danish parliamentary delegation paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.
Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Quayson highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Ghana and Denmark, noting that relations between the two countries predate Ghana’s independence. He cited the Christiansborg Castle as an enduring symbol of the shared history and welcomed Denmark’s interest in preserving the historic site.
The Deputy Minister outlined Ghana’s evolving economic strategy, which focuses on expanding trade and investment, accelerating industrialisation and creating jobs, particularly for the country’s youthful population.
He stressed the need for Ghana to reduce its dependence on imported finished goods by strengthening local manufacturing and value addition, arguing that such a strategy would boost employment opportunities and enhance food security.
Mr. Quayson expressed Ghana’s readiness to work with friendly countries such as Denmark through mutually beneficial partnerships that promote sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.
He identified Denmark’s expertise in agriculture, technology and renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power, as key areas that could support Ghana’s development agenda.
The Deputy Minister further underscored the importance of technology transfer and local value addition, citing Ghana’s cocoa industry as an example. He noted that processing cocoa beans locally into finished products such as chocolate would create jobs, strengthen domestic industries and reduce the cost associated with exporting raw materials for processing abroad.
He also highlighted the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing the continent-wide market of about 1.4 billion people as a major incentive for investment in manufacturing and industrial development.
Leading the Danish delegation, Karsten Hønge, Chairperson of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Danish Parliament, commended Ghana’s development efforts and discussed cooperation between Ghana and the European Union, including priority areas of engagement and developments in the Sahel region.
In response, Mr. Quayson acknowledged Ghana’s strong multilateral cooperation with the European Union, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, but encouraged efforts to deepen direct bilateral relations between Ghana and Denmark.
On regional security matters, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to dialogue and diplomatic engagement with countries in the Sahel as a means of encouraging a return to constitutional rule and democratic governance.
He indicated that Ghana continues to maintain engagement with countries in the region through diplomatic channels and high-level visits.
The Danish delegation also praised Ghana’s contributions to international peacekeeping operations and sought information on youth participation in the country’s democratic processes.
Responding, Mr. Quayson highlighted initiatives aimed at nurturing civic engagement among young people, including the Model United Nations session organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the 81st anniversary of the United Nations.
According to him, such programmes provide students with practical exposure to multilateral diplomacy, international affairs and global governance processes.
He also pointed to ongoing national efforts to strengthen social cohesion and reduce ethnic divisions as part of Ghana’s broader democratic development agenda.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their desire to deepen cooperation and expand opportunities in trade, investment, technology transfer and industrial development. The Danish delegation expressed appreciation for the warm reception and described the discussions as fruitful and constructive.