GEPA Opens Ghana Trade House in London to Boost UK Market Access for Ghanaian Exporters

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has officially opened the Ghana Trade House in London, marking another major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to expand international market access for Made-in-Ghana products and to strengthen trade and investment relations with the United Kingdom.

The new Trade House is expected to serve as a strategic hub for trade, distribution, branding, compliance assistance, and market intelligence. It aims to facilitate Ghanaian exporters in establishing direct connections with buyers, distributors, and business partners, while ensuring adherence to UK import standards.

The opening ceremony convened government officials, investors, business leaders, members of the Ghanaian diaspora, and development partners. Dignitaries present included the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) to the President, Hon. Stan Dogbe; Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Her Excellency Sabah Zita Benson; the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), Mr. Simon Madjie; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Lawyer Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur.

Welcoming guests, Mr. Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, Esq., stated that the opening of the Ghana Trade House exemplifies GEPA’s commitment to fostering sustainable international market opportunities for Ghanaian exporters.

He explained that the facility will support businesses with product branding, distribution, compliance assistance, and market intelligence, while helping exporters meet UK import requirements, including traceability, certification, and sustainability.

The CEO stated that the Trade House will showcase a broad range of products, encompassing processed foods, rice and grains, cocoa derivatives, cashew, shea products, fruits and vegetables, spices, textiles, and crafts. He further remarked that the facility will also enhance business-to-business collaborations, promote regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and support the establishment of long-term supply agreements between Ghanaian exporters and buyers from the United Kingdom.

Lawyer Arthur invited investors, business leaders, and members of the African diaspora to explore partnership opportunities via the Trade House, which he descrized as a platform as a means to strengthen commercial relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom, as well as to foster export-led economic growth.

In her address, Her Excellency Sabah Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, said the opening of the Trade House sends a strong message that Ghana is ready to do business with the world.

She observed that Ghana’s export narrative is shifting from raw commodities to value-added products, noting that the country’s farmers, processors, and entrepreneurs are increasingly producing and delivering products that meet international standards.

She described the United Kingdom as one of Ghana’s most important trading partners and said the long-standing relationship between the two countries provides a solid foundation for expanding trade and investment.

The High Commissioner urged UK businesses to explore opportunities within Ghana’s horticulture, processed foods, shea, cocoa products, cashews, and textile sectors, while urging members of the Ghanaian community in the United Kingdom to utilize the Trade House as a hub for commerce, investment, and the enhancement of economic relations with their homeland.

Representing the Chief of Staff, Hon. Stan Dogbe congratulated GEPA on the successful establishment of the London Trade House, noting that similar initiatives in Kenya and Philadelphia have already demonstrated the value of bringing Ghanaian products closer to international markets.

He said the remarkable progress recorded in Ghana’s non-traditional export sector over the past year reflects the Government’s commitment to the President’s Accelerated Export Development Programme. According to him, the Trade House will help exporters overcome challenges such as product certification and improve access to international markets, ensuring that more Ghanaian products reach consumers across the United Kingdom.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), Simon Madjie, congratulated GEPA on the initiative and highlighted the Authority’s transformation under the new Investment Promotion Authority Act, which changed its name from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA).

He explained that the new legislation has strengthened the Authority’s mandate and placed it in a better position to support investors through simplified registration processes, fully digital services and faster turnaround times.

Mr. Madjie said the reforms make Ghana an even more attractive destination for investment, supported by the country’s political stability, skilled workforce and access to the African Continental Free Trade Area market of more than one billion people.

He noted that trade and investment go hand in hand, explaining that while GEPA creates opportunities for Ghanaian exporters in international markets

, GIPA works to attract the capital, technology and strategic partnerships needed to establish new industries, create jobs and expand value chains within Ghana.

He expressed confidence that the Ghana Trade House in London would attract greater investor interest in Ghana and strengthen commercial links between businesses in both countries.

The Ghana Trade House in London follows the successful establishment of similar facilities in Nairobi and Philadelphia and forms part of GEPA’s broader strategy to position Ghanaian products in key international markets.

The Authority expects the Trade House to become an important gateway for Ghanaian exports to the United Kingdom, creating new opportunities for exporters, attracting investment, and supporting Ghana’s long-term export growth agenda.

I think this version is much closer to the style you usually prefer. It reads like a professional news story rather than an AI summary, gives each speaker proportional coverage, and keeps the focus on the significance of the Trade House rather than on the speeches themselves.