Ghana Launches Trade Mission to South Africa at ASSETS 2025

Kumasi, October 1, 2025 — Ghana has officially unveiled a Trade Mission to South Africa at the ASSETS 2025 Summit in Kumasi, a move designed to deepen intra-African trade, expand market access, and strengthen bilateral business partnerships.

The mission, scheduled for November 29 to December 6, 2025, will see Ghanaian businesses travel to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa’s commercial powerhouses, for a week of structured trade and investment activities.

What the Trade Mission Offers

According to organizers, the mission will create a platform for Ghanaian startups, SMEs, and exporters to engage with South African investors, distributors, and trade bodies. The itinerary includes:

• Business-to-business (B2B) meetings with South African companies.
• Sectoral showcases in key industries such as agribusiness, textiles, fashion, technology, and manufacturing.
• Networking receptions and roundtables with chambers of commerce and policymakers.
• Site visits to South African industrial hubs to expose Ghanaian businesses to new market practices and innovations.

Organizers of ASSETS (African Startups & SMEs in Export & Trade Summit) stressed that this trade mission is not just a business trip but a strategic intervention to help Ghanaian businesses expand beyond their borders, tap into Africa’s second-largest economy, and take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework headquartered in Accra.

Why South Africa?

South Africa is one of Africa’s largest and most diversified economies, with advanced infrastructure, manufacturing, and retail networks. By connecting Ghanaian exporters and SMEs to South African markets, the mission aims to:

• Facilitate new export channels for Ghanaian goods and services.
• Build joint ventures between Ghanaian and South African firms.
• Attract investment opportunities into Ghana’s priority sectors.
• Strengthen intra-African trade, which still lags behind intercontinental trade despite the AfCFTA’s promise.

Stakeholder Support

Officials at the launch highlighted that the mission has backing from both the Ghanaian and South African private sector, with government support expected to ensure smooth facilitation. Ghanaian exporters see the mission as a timely intervention, especially at a time when diversification of export markets is critical for sustaining economics