Oct 14-2025

To further deepen relations with the European Union and its members, Her Excellency Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana joined over 1000 participants in this year’s Global Gateway Forum held from 9 to 10th October, 2025 in Brussels. She was accompanied by Hon. James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana and other policy makers.

The Vice President’s address to separate sessions on the state of the world and sustainable cocoa initiative attracted the full attention of many participants as she used the occasion to deliver strong messages to representatives from both public and private sectors.

On the state of the world, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang re-ecoed growing sentiments about the socio-economic and political challenges arising from shifting geopolitical relations. She highlighted Ghana’s efforts to build resilience and insulate itself from the severe impact of the changes we are witnessing.

In the face of the new challenges and given the global character of the porblems the world faces, the Vice President called for cooperation rather than disjointed actions. She challenged Africa to vigorously pursue an enhanced role in shaping global dialogue and outcomes through diversification of partnerships and the promotion of investment in research, innovation, and value addition.

The Vice President’s remarks on the sustainable cocoa initiative touched on the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and Ghana’s ambition to empower farmers, create decent jobs, and promote sustainability in the cocoa sector.

Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang emphasised the importance of processing cocoa instead of exporting raw beans and identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a unique vehicle for building regional cocoa value chains.