By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities in the UK have set out to bolster partnership with the African continent as the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly commences a four-day visit to the continent where he is expected to touch at least three countries, including Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia.
He is expected to arrive Accra late Monday to announce new UK investment for small businesses in Ghana, one of the UK’s biggest export markets in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Foreign Secretary will also travel on to Nigeria on Tuesday before concluding his visit in Zambia on Thursday.
A release from his office on Sunday said the Foreign Secretary will also pledge a £40 million boost for Ghana’s businesses.
The funding provided by British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution, owned wholly by the FCDO, will deliver long-term flexible capital for up to 150 Ghanaian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), opening up access to business support services to help them grow.
The release quoted the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly as saying, “I want the UK to be increasingly driving future-focussed, mutually beneficial partnerships with African countries operating in the world’s largest free trade area. From investments in clean energy, to companies turning waste products into fashion items, there is so much potential for economic growth across Africa.
“With the UK-African Investment Summit to be hosted in London in April next year, we are looking to strengthen our business links and grow our economies together. By investing in companies in Ghana today, we are investing in jobs and growth for the future.”
Ghana is the UK’s fourth-biggest export market in sub-Saharan Africa, with total UK imports from Ghana amounting to £1.3 billion in 2022.
The Foreign Secretary will also launch a £3.9 million UK programme to tackle illicit flows of illegal gold and the social, environmental and economic harms the trade causes both in Ghana and in the UK.
Upon arrival in Nigeria and Zambia, Cleverly will meet with key government figures to discuss a positive future of our partnerships with Africa and continue to see UK partnerships with African businesses and NGOs in action, delivering economic growth and trade and investment opportunities, the release added.
