On 24. - 28. September 2017 visited Prague Ghanaian business delegation representing different types of industry like petrochemical, transport, agriculture, „light industry“, textile and finance, led by deputy minister of trade and industry Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah altogether with deputy minister of information Hon. Perry Curtis Okudzeto.

The trade mission was initiated on 25. September 2017 by visiting following institutions and companies with regard to professional orientation of delegates:

• UNIPETROL RPA, s.r.o., petrochemical refinery in Kralupy nad Vltavou
• CZECHINVEST, Praha - investment
• MODUS spol. s r.o., production plant in Česká Lípa – illuminating devices
• TEKON Teplice s.r.o. – cannery

The Czech-Ghanaian business forum took place at ministry of trade and industry of the Czech Republic the next day and was held under the auspices of deputy minister of trade and industry of the Czech Republic Mr. Vladimír Bärtl. Plenty of representatives of various Czech companies and institutions took part at this forum.

After the formal part, where the Czech companies were called out to carry on the successful cooperation started in 1960s, the forum continued by exchanging of contact information, experience and queries in the way of B2B negotiation. Ghana Free Zone Board, as the mission organizer called for Czech investors to create jointly the industrial zones and parks.

The deputy minister Vladimír Bärtl then on the personal meeting discussed with deputy minister Ahenkorah the forthcoming agreement of mutual cooperation between both trade and industry ministries. The agreement is actually at the stage of final comments and could be signed within couple of months.  

Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah was afterwards welcomed by director of African department of ministry of foreign affairs Mr. Ivan Jančárek, who congratulated to the Ghanaian government on the election victory and appreciated the present cooperation in defense industry. Mr.Jančárek has also highlighted the signing of the Agreement of avoidance of double taxation. Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah afterwards mentioned that Ghana needs to introduce Czech Republic to a greater extent to Ghanaian entrepreneurs and he asked in this context for the visa facilitation system with Czech Republic, mainly for entrepreneurs and students.

The festive dinner was held on 26. September 2017 in hotel Diplomat in Prague, under the auspices of Ghanaian ambassador to Czech Republic H.E.Virginia Hesse, who thanked to all delegates for taking part in this mission and highly appreciated the long-term endeavor of Dr.Karla Laryea, CEO of Knights a.s. company, who has implemented several projects using solely Czech products and technology.  

Tomáš Zázvorka, commercial counselor, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Accra