President John Dramani Mahama is urging Japanese businesses to leverage Ghana’s economic stability and strategic position as a gateway to Africa, to invest in key sectors such as agriculture and agribusiness for mutual growth and economic partnership.
Ghana’s growing consumer market, improving macroeconomic fundamentals, and clear reforms, according to President Mahama, make it an attractive destination for trade and investment.
Speaking at the Presidential Investment Forum on the sidelines of the TICAD 9 Conference in Yokohama, Japan, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s economic progress under its reset agenda, noting signs of improvement and a commitment to offering incentives to businesses ready to invest.
He emphasised Ghana’s comparative advantage in agriculture and agribusiness, citing the country’s vast arable lands, abundant sunshine, and water resources, including the world’s largest man-made lake, Lake Volta.
This, he noted, positions Ghana as an attractive destination for investment in the sector.
“Ghana has a comparative advantage when it comes to agriculture and agribusiness in terms of available arable lands, in terms of sunshine, in terms of water. We have the world’s largest man-made lake,” he touted.
President Mahama disclosed that he aims to continue the vision of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, regarding the utilisation of the Volta Lake, a project he believes will create employment opportunities for many young people living along the lake and beyond.
This initiative aligns with his broader agenda to boost economic growth, create jobs, and promote industrialization.
Dr. Nkrumah’s vision for industrialisation and economic development which Mahama referred included harnessing Ghana’s natural resources, such as the Volta Lake, to drive growth and prosperity.
It is also reflected in projects like the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam which was used to leverage Ghana’s resources to fuel industrialisation and improve living standards for its citizens.
President Mahama highlighted the Volta Economic Corridor, where the vast arable lands surrounding Volta Lake would be utilised and irrigated to enable year-round agricultural production for both domestic consumption and export.
He noted that Dr. Nkrumah had envisioned significant development around the lake, a vision that the Volta Economic Corridor aims to capture. With millions of hectares of land bordering the lake, President Mahama added that the water resources could be harnessed to bring approximately 2 million hectares of land under irrigation, thereby boosting agricultural productivity and economic growth.
“And our first President had quite a good dream about what he wanted to do with that Lake, and we’re going to capture that in what I talk about when I talk about the Volta Economic Corridor.
“We have millions of hectares of land that border that huge lake. And the water can be used to bring about 2 million hectares of land under irrigation,” he added.
With this, President Mahama espoused his vision of leveraging Ghana’s natural resources to create opportunities that would make the country a key player in global food security and industrial growth.
He stated that Ghana aims to accelerate industrial growth, ensure food security, enhance supply chains and value addition, and position itself as a manufacturing and export hub for Africa.
This vision, he added, aligns with his broader agenda to boost economic development and create new opportunities for Ghanaians.
“We’re looking to accelerate industrial growth, ensure food security, enhance supply chain and value addition, and position Ghana as the manufacturing and export hub of Africa,” he stated.
Mahama is expected to head to Singapore from Japan.
Mahama embarks on key diplomatic mission to Japan and Singapore
