By: Abena Offei
In Support of Prosper Africa; a US Trade and Investment initiative, the USAID Africa Bureau has opened the Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) program office in Accra. The Regional Program Office on-continent is the agency’s commitment to work with Private sector firms across Africa to boost their business eminence. It is also to make them attractive, equal trade and investment partners.
The AIT program since its inception in 2021 has generated thousands of jobs across Africa and within the United States. It has delivered billions in exports and investments, mobilized private sector-driven solutions and created healthy business environments. Announcing the launch of the Program’s West Africa Regional Office, the USAID’s Trade Team Lead Mr. Petterson Brown, said the choice to position the AIT program in Ghana is strategic, as Ghana is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. He said Trade accounts for 90 percent of Ghana’s gross domestic product but there are many opportunities to increase competitiveness of Ghanaian firms, particularly within the agri-food sector which could create more jobs, reduce inequalities and increase household incomes.
In West Africa, the AIT program is already working in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Cote D’Ivoire, Benin, Niger, Ghana, and Liberia. In Niger, the program addresses the food security and resilience challenges by strengthening Niger’s financial sector and enabling access to capital and inputs for farmers. In Liberia, the AIT program is advancing opportunities for partnership that will grow the commercial agricultural sector, especially for women and youth. The program will also improve investment in productivity and commercialization of Liberian agribusinesses.
The Managing Director of Africa Operations for Prosper Africa, Mr. Brinton Bohling noted that Supply chains cut across regions and countries with the private sector evaluating the opportunities of markets. Critically, the program mirrors the private sector’s approach and enables USAID to be more responsive to private sector needs than ever.
Mr Micheal Andersson of USAID West Africa on his part said the USAID Africa Trade and Investment program is designed to bolster USAID’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within Africa and will run through 2026. The office which will be located at Labone, in Accra, is the fourth and final Regional program Office on-
ABOUT PROSPER AFRICA
Prosper Africa is the White House initiative to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and African countries. Prosper African brings together- and enhance –the full suite of US. Government services and resources to help companies and investors do business in US and Africa markets. Through the initiative, the US Government is launching innovative new tools to advance deals, unlock market opportunities and strengthen business and investment climate.
