Denmark and Ghana agree to deepen green industrial partnership
The Danish Embassy has called for deeper cooperation with Ghana on green industrialisation, telling business leaders in Accra that access to premium global markets now depends on environmental credibility, not just product quality.
Jorgen Bollesen, Head of Economic Diplomacy and Trade at the Danish Embassy, made the appeal at the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition dialogue on the Sustainable African Value Initiative (SAVI). The event ran under the theme "Advancing Industrial Sustainability for Global Market Access."
"Today, global market access requires more than just high-quality products. It demands green integrity," Bollesen said.
He described Denmark's position in blunt terms: the green transition is not an economic burden but a driver of modern industrial competitiveness. Sustainable production, he argued, is fast becoming a baseline requirement for participation in global trade, and Ghana stands to increase its share of international markets by meeting that standard.
Bollesen identified five areas for closer Ghana-Denmark cooperation: accelerating industrial decarbonisation, improving water-sector management, raising industrial efficiency, expanding the transition to green energy, and adding value to locally sourced products. He stressed that Denmark's engagement with African countries rests on mutual interests, shared ambitions and commercial investment, and urged forum participants to use the platform to develop green financing opportunities, corporate alliances and regulatory frameworks for sustainable industrial development.
The pressure on industries to reduce environmental impact while meeting international production and trade standards is growing, he said.
"Together, we can prove that sustainable industrialisation is the most viable path to shared global prosperity," Bollesen said.
European regulations are tightening. Consumer preferences are shifting. For Ghanaian manufacturers, the message is that waiting to adapt carries a measurable cost.
Debora Amoah-Awuah, a climate and sustainability expert, pushed the point further. She urged businesses to strengthen their supply chains, diversify sources of raw materials and prepare for disruptions as global economic and geopolitical conditions shift. Companies can no longer afford to wait for a crisis before putting contingency measures in place, she said. They need to anticipate risks and develop alternative sources of supply now.
The SAVI initiative is designed to help companies do exactly that. Natasha K. Eyiah, Assistant Project Officer for SAVI, said the programme helps companies develop a sustainability baseline, relevant metrics, and a clear sustainability strategy and action plan. She announced a six-month support programme aimed at strengthening business sustainability practices, improving competitiveness and preparing companies for emerging environmental and regulatory requirements.
Seth Twum-Akwaboah, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Ghana Industries, told the gathering that Environmental, Social and Governance practices are now a strategic requirement for remaining competitive and accessing international markets. ESG has become an important component of corporate reporting and business transactions, particularly as companies seek to expand operations and engage international partners, he said.
Not everyone in the room framed the opportunity in terms of compliance. Felicia Twumasi, Chief Executive Officer of Homefoods Limited, raised the obstacles facing businesses and investors on the ground: access to financing, investment recovery, and the ability of local enterprises to participate effectively in the global economy. Her comments cut against the optimism of the diplomatic speeches, grounding the discussion in the practical constraints Ghanaian companies face when trying to meet the standards that European buyers now expect.
The summit brought together government representatives, industry associations and international partners around a single proposition: that Ghana's industrial future depends on how quickly its manufacturers can prove their environmental credentials. Denmark has positioned itself as the partner to help them do it. Whether the financing, regulatory frameworks and corporate alliances Bollesen called for materialise will determine if that proposition holds.
According to Joy Online.
