Along with Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Victor Smith, the vice President Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang on Wednesday, October 22, met with members of the Ghanaian Association in Iowa at Drake University.
The Ghanaians from neighboring states also joined, she took the opportunity to listen to their concerns and shared the government’s vision for inclusive national development.
She conveyed warm greetings from President John Mahama and spoke about the importance of Pan-African solidarity, noting that Ghana’s progress is intertwined with that of her neighboring countries. She stated that true development must be inclusive, bringing those on the margins to the center as that is the essence of good governance.
She urged the students to appreciate the solid foundation provided by Ghana’s educational system, which continues to prepare many for global excellence. The Vice President also encouraged them to give back to their country in whatever way possible, noting, “Ghana will always be a home to them”.
She outlined four key focus areas under the national reset agenda. The first is Job Creation. The Vice President said having recognized Ghana’s youthful population, “the government is investing in policies that generate sustainable employment”.
The second she spoke about is Agricultural Transformation, indicating Ghana’s commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency through programs such as the Feed Ghana initiative, support for value addition, and collaboration with the private sector to create a modern, productive agricultural economy which was also highlighted by the minister of food and agriculture, Eric Opoku.
Prof. Naana Jane further emphasized government’s commitment to supporting small and medium-scale enterprises by creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation, growth, and access to finance.
She further stressed the need for prudent use of resources.
“Our goal is to ensure that national resources are managed wisely and transparently”.
The Vice President shared her passion for advancing the welfare of women, stressing that when women are supported, the positive impact extends to families, communities, and the entire nation.
“Every Ghanaian, regardless of circumstance, has something valuable to contribute to national development”.
She expressed her gratitude to the Ghanaian community in Iowa for their warmth, patriotism, and contributions to Ghana’s image abroad.
“Ghana remains open and ready to harness the ideas, skills, and investments of her citizens at home and abroad for progress”. She concluded.
