Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has said his diplomatic engagements are focused on expanding economic opportunities for young people at home in order to reduce irregular migration and prevent mistreatment by US immigration authorities.
Speaking during an economic and agribusiness engagement with Pennsylvania State Senator Scott Martin, Ambassador Smith said a lack of jobs and investment opportunities in Ghana continued to push young people abroad, exposing them to harsh enforcement by agencies such as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“I don’t want my people to be molested by ICE,” he said, adding that sustainable employment at home was the most effective way to address the problem.
The ambassador argued that boosting investment and job creation in Ghana would reduce the vulnerabilities faced by young Ghanaians overseas while strengthening the country’s long-term economic prospects.
Highlighting Ghana’s investment appeal, he described the country as a strategic entry point to the wider African market.
“Ghana offers investors access to a billion-dollar African market, backed by political stability and a growing private sector,” he said, urging US businesses to consider opportunities across key sectors.
Ambassador Smith also raised concerns about Ghana’s dependence on food imports, warning that it continued to place significant pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
“Rice importation alone accounts for one of the largest outflows of foreign exchange,” he said. “We must invest in domestic agriculture to reverse this trend.”
Senator Martin outlined Pennsylvania’s agricultural strengths and said there were clear areas for collaboration, particularly in agribusiness and value-added processing.
“There are opportunities for cooperation between Pennsylvania and Ghana that could deliver benefits to both sides,” he said.
Representing the US–Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Florence Torson-Hart said Pennsylvania’s agricultural model closely aligned with Ghana’s farming practices, making it a natural partner.
President of Millersville University, Professor Daniel Wubah, also pointed to longstanding institutional and cultural ties between Ghana and the Philadelphia region, describing them as a strong foundation for deeper cooperation.
The meeting highlighted agriculture as a potential long-term solution to Ghana’s rising import bill, with a focus on modernising farming practices, expanding agro-processing, and strengthening value chains.
Ambassador Smith said the engagement formed part of Ghana’s broader push for economic diplomacy, investment-led growth, and sustainable development.
