Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has strongly positioned the country as a premier hub for regional and inter-regional trade and economic cooperation during the 4th Marrakesh Parliamentary Dialogue held in Morocco on June 19–20, 2026.
In a high-profile address at the forum, organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), the Moroccan House of Councillors, and the Parliamentary Network of the World Bank and IMF, Speaker Bagbin highlighted Ghana’s unique geographical and economic advantages.
He described the country as ideally located to serve as a convergence point for businesses across Africa, the Euro-Mediterranean region, and the Gulf states.
“Ghana has a strategic advantage which positions the country to boost both intra and inter-regional trade,” Bagbin stated. “Not only is Ghana positioned at the center of the world, its location on the West African coast also offers a natural gateway to both landlocked Sahelian states and global shipping lines.”
The Speaker emphasized Ghana’s stable political environment, ongoing improvements in transport infrastructure, and the expansion of key ports in Tema and Takoradi as major draws for international investment.
He also pointed to deliberate government policies, including alignment of industrialization and export diversification strategies, and the transition toward a 24-hour economy to enhance productivity and global competitiveness.
Bagbin called on regional economic blocs to move beyond internal integration and forge stronger inter-regional partnerships, particularly with Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf countries. “We must move beyond building regional economic silos to constructing formidable relationships across regions,” he advised.
The forum featured discussions on pressing global issues, including public debt, trade barriers, investment in Artificial Intelligence (with proposals for a Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf AI Hub), sustainable job creation through the Blue Economy, and the impact of climate change on food security.
As moderator of a special Africa-focused session, Speaker Bagbin outlined Ghana’s policy framework and action plan for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS). These initiatives aim to leverage Africa’s 1.3 billion consumer market through value addition, enhanced competitiveness, and job creation.
On the sidelines, the Speaker held bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Niger, and Morocco.
The press release, signed by Director of Media Relations David Sebastian Damoah, underscores Ghana’s active role in international parliamentary diplomacy and its ambition to become a key player in global trade networks.
