Ghana and Canada have agreed to deepen cooperation in youth employment, skills development and women’s economic empowerment following discussions between Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development, Randeep Sarai.
In a statement following the engagement, Mr. Ablakwa described the discussions as “very positive and meaningful” and announced a series of proposed initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for young people, supporting women entrepreneurs and strengthening bilateral relations.
Among the key outcomes is a planned partnership to improve labour mobility and equip Ghanaian youth with skills relevant to the international job market.
Mr. Ablakwa said Ghana and Canada “will create a partnership for labour mobility and skills empowerment for the youth” in areas including digital literacy, standardised certification for global jobs, energy transition and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The proposed collaboration is expected to focus on equipping young people with practical skills and recognised qualifications that could improve their employment prospects locally and internationally.
The emphasis on digital literacy, energy transition and vocational training also reflects the growing importance of specialised skills in a changing global labour market.
Women’s economic empowerment also featured prominently in the discussions, with Canada agreeing to provide technical support for the establishment of Ghana’s proposed Women’s Development Bank.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, “Canada will offer technical support for the establishment of Ghana’s Women’s Development Bank.”
The proposed support is one of five key areas of cooperation outlined by the Foreign Affairs Minister following the meeting.
The Women’s Development Bank is intended to address financial barriers facing women seeking to establish, sustain or expand their businesses. Canada’s technical assistance could contribute to the institutional development of the initiative, although specific details of the support were not provided in the statement.
The agreement places women’s access to economic opportunities alongside youth employment and skills development as priorities for Ghana-Canada cooperation.
Mr. Ablakwa praised Mr. Sarai’s relationship with Ghana, pointing to his decision to make the country his first destination after his appointment last year.
“The Honourable Randeep Sarai is a great friend of Ghana as demonstrated by his conscious decision to make Ghana the first country he visited last year immediately after his appointment,” he said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the engagement had produced concrete areas for collaboration and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Canada.
He described the discussions as fruitful and said the outcomes covered economic development, skills training, institutional support and wider cooperation between Africa and Canada.
Beyond jobs and women’s empowerment, Ghana and Canada have agreed to explore cooperation in environmental protection and the reclamation of mined land, while promoting legal and sustainable mining practices.
The two countries also plan to coordinate a broader Africa-Canada dialogue next year to align development priorities across the continent.
Mr. Ablakwa said the proposed dialogue would focus on Africa’s transformation through “trade, industrialization, railway development, value addition and not aid.”
The proposed agenda signals an emphasis on economic partnerships that support production, infrastructure development and value creation.
Concluding his statement, Mr. Ablakwa reaffirmed the strength of relations between the two countries, declaring: “We reaffirm our buoyant Ghana Canada relations.”
