The United Kingdom and Ghana are opening a new chapter in their relationship, cementing a modern growth partnership centred on trade, investment, and innovation rather than colonial ties of the past.
Senior officials from both nations met last week to review progress on the Ghana-UK Trade Partnership Agreement (TPA), which came into force five years ago. The Committee took stock of achievements and mapped out practical steps to help Ghanaian and British businesses capitalise on the agreement’s opportunities. Officials agreed on action to increase bilateral trade and support broader economic growth across both nations.
Two major initiatives now underscore this shift from promise to tangible action. Ci-Gaba, Ghana’s first pension-backed fund of funds, will mobilise long-term domestic capital alongside international investment to expand financing for Ghanaian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The initiative enables local savings to directly back local businesses and jobs—a critical move for entrepreneurship in Ghana. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provided catalytic grant funding through the RISA Fund to support Ci-Gaba’s design, structuring, operational setup, and ecosystem strengthening.
In a separate but complementary move, NeoFinGo—a UK-Ghana initiative developed by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI Global) in partnership with Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Authority, Bank of Ghana, and the AfCFTA Secretariat—will modernise cross-border trade finance. The platform aims to reduce delays and improve access to finance, particularly benefiting exporters and strengthening Ghana’s position as a gateway to regional African markets.
British High Commissioner Dr Christian Rogg hailed the partnership’s progress. “The TPA showcases the UK and Ghana working side-by-side to remove practical barriers to trade and to help businesses take advantage of the trade opportunities our agreement provides,” he said.
“Alongside new initiatives to unlock long-term finance for businesses, SMEs and exporters, these initiatives represent a further step in building a modern growth partnership that supports jobs and sustainable prosperity,” Rogg added.
The initiatives reflect a broader UK government commitment to drive economic growth and support sustainable development both domestically and internationally. For Ghana, the partnership offers concrete tools to strengthen SME financing—a longstanding challenge—while positioning the country as a regional trade hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
