By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Sept. 30, GNA – The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC) has opened the maiden Eastern Expo to promote trade, investment and tourism and unlock economic opportunities in the region.
The Expo is being held at Jackson Park in Koforidua and runs until October 3, 2026.
It is on the theme: “Unlocking Opportunities for Sustainable Trade, Investment and Tourism.”
Speaking at the opening on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Mr Augustus Obuadum Tanoh, Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development, said the Eastern region was central to the Government’s plans to transforming Ghana’s economy through industrialisation, job creation and export development.
He said the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme would help move Ghana from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods for domestic, ECOWAS and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) markets.
Mr Tanoh said the Volta Economic Corridor, covering 75 districts, including 10 in the Eastern region, would receive improved rail, lake and road infrastructure to facilitate the movement of goods and reduce freight costs.
He said industrial and agro-processing parks were also being developed in the Kwahu Afram Plains, while investments in tomato processing, agro-production and garment manufacturing in Koforidua would create jobs and help reduce post-harvest losses.
Mr Tanoh identified tourism as another key driver of the region’s economic development, saying the Government planned to develop tourist attractions and improve access and services under the SHOW24 initiative.
He urged investors to provide capital, technology, and expertise, while encouraging farmers, producers, and local businesses to participate in emerging value chains.
Mr Seth Terkper, Economic Adviser to the President and former Minister of Finance, who spoke on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, commended the ERCC and the Eastern Regional Minister for spearheading the initiative.
He said Ghana needed to move beyond exporting raw materials and depending on imported products, emphasising that value addition and industrialisation were central to the President’s Resetting Ghana Agenda.
Mr Terkper said the 2026 Budget placed strong emphasis on the 24-Hour Economy Policy, agribusiness and opportunities under the AfCFTA.
He said reforms were also being introduced to create a more predictable business environment, including 24-hour business registration services, digital services and measures to integrate Ghanaian businesses into regional and global value chains.
He said access to finance was being expanded through the Development Bank Ghana, urging local and international investors to take advantage of the Eastern region’s economic potential.
Mr Terkper expressed optimism that the Expo would generate business deals, partnerships, investments and jobs, while encouraging tourism operators and young people to develop new products and take advantage of emerging opportunities.
Mrs Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister, described the Expo as “the beginning of a new chapter” for the region and a platform to market its resources and connect local businesses to global opportunities.
She said the region had significant economic potential, citing its arable lands, mineral deposits and tourist attractions, including Boti Falls, the Volta Lake and the Kwahu Scarp.
Mrs Awatey assured investors of a peaceful and conducive business environment and invited local and international investors to explore opportunities in the region.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said tourism, trade and investment were interconnected and could drive growth across sectors, including accommodation, agriculture, food, fashion, music, film, handicrafts and events.
She called for integrated tourism circuits to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more, while promoting agro-tourism and food tourism to create opportunities for farmers, processors, women and young entrepreneurs.
Madam Gomashie also urged stakeholders to embrace digital transformation through online booking platforms, digital payments and destination marketing, saying tourist attractions that were not visible online risked becoming inaccessible to modern travellers.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae
Email: [email protected]