By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Nov. 13, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama’s landmark State Visit to Singapore, which secured investment deals worth US$1 billion in agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure, has been spotlighted as a major achievement in Ghana’s foreign relations.
Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minister for Finance, presenting Government’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2026 Financial Year, said the Singapore visit marked a turning point in Ghana’s economic diplomacy.
He said it attracted strategic investments that would boost industrialisation, create jobs, and strengthen international confidence in the country’s economic recovery agenda.
Among the deals secured were OLAM’s US$200 million agro-processing facility, Shangri-La’s US$300 million hotel and convention centre project, and several high-value infrastructure partnerships in port expansion, aviation, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) cooperation.
Dr Forson said the agreements reflected the Government’s commitment to positioning Ghana as a hub for trade, tourism, and innovation in Africa.
He added that beyond Singapore, further engagements with China yielded significant new agreements on Artificial Intelligence cooperation, Belt and Road Initiative projects, and a US$30 million grant for digital infrastructure.
These developments, the Minister noted, underscored Ghana’s growing emphasis on technology-driven diplomacy, designed to enhance digital transformation, capacity building, and sustainable growth.
On the regional front, Ghana has deepened its role as a stabilising force in West Africa.
President Mahama’s visits to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Dr Forson said, reinforced dialogue between the Alliance of Sahel States and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), fostering cooperation and regional security at a critical time for the sub-region.
The Minister emphasised that Ghana’s diplomatic outreach was not limited to high-level political engagement but also extended to practical initiatives aimed at improving the everyday experiences of citizens.
Notably, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced major reforms at the Passport Office to improve service delivery and efficiency.
Thirteen Passport Application Centres (PACs) have been established across nine regions, including premium centres in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, offering faster and more reliable services.
A landmark development came on April 28, 2025, with the rollout of chip-embedded biometric passports which placed Ghana among a select group of African nations issuing ICAO-compliant travel documents.
The new passports, featuring 175 advanced security elements, up from 32, have significantly strengthened the integrity and global credibility of Ghanaian travel documents, enhancing the country’s international standing and traveller confidence.
Dr Forson said the Ministry also pursued policies aimed at advancing Ghana’s global mobility and labour market integration. Labour mobility agreements were signed with Jordan, Barbados, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, while negotiations were ongoing with Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saudi Arabia.
These partnerships are expected to create structured overseas employment pathways for Ghanaian professionals and skilled workers.
In addition, visa waiver agreements were concluded with Morocco, Mozambique, Dominica, and São Tomé and Príncipe to promote greater people-to-people exchange, tourism, and business opportunities.
One of the notable diplomatic achievements in the past year was Ghana’s successful negotiation for the restoration of five-year multiple-entry United States visas for Ghanaian citizens.
The measure, the Minister said, provided significant relief to frequent travellers, students, and members of the diaspora community, enhancing convenience and strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and the United States.
Dr Forson announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would, in 2026, implement its Strategic Transition from Renting to Infrastructure Development (STRIDE) initiative.
The policy seeks to progressively acquire and construct state-owned diplomatic properties abroad to reduce rental costs and ensure long-term fiscal efficiency in Ghana’s foreign missions.
The Ministry will also roll out a nationwide E-Visa system, aimed at fully digitising the visa application process to improve convenience for travellers.
Two data centres will be established in Accra and Kumasi to digitally connect all Ghanaian missions worldwide, enabling real-time communication, document processing, and faster consular services.
Furthermore, 16 permanent Regional Passport Application Centres will be constructed across the country as part of a drive to decentralise consular services and bring them closer to citizens.
Dr Forson stated that these forward-looking reforms would modernise foreign service delivery, improve institutional efficiency, and consolidate Ghana’s reputation as a globally connected and competitive nation.
“The Ministry’s progress demonstrates how diplomacy can serve as a tool for economic transformation and service delivery improvement,” he said.
He added that, “Through sustained engagement, innovation, and partnerships, Ghana is reaping the benefits of its Reset Agenda and reasserting its leadership on the African and global stage.”
He underscored that the gains from diplomacy, from billion-dollar investment deals and visa reforms to the digital transformation of passport services, collectively form part of the Government’s vision to rebuild national institutions, promote inclusive growth, and expand opportunities for Ghanaians at home and abroad.
GNA
Christian Akorlie