U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky last Monday, October 28, paid a visit to both the Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto as well as the Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen.
He also met with Government officials, private sector representatives, members of business associations, and academic institutions.
During his visit, in both meetings, Mr. Censky discussed bilateral agricultural trade.
The Deputy Secretary also interacted with African alumni from two U.S. government agricultural exchange programs – the Cochran Fellowship and the Borlaug Fellowship.
The alumni received training in the United States to develop market-driven food systems and increase trade links with U.S. agribusinesses, and performed research at U.S. institutions in topics ranging from animal health, food safety, and biotechnology.
Stephen Censky is in Ghana on a trade mission to West Africa, to help United States exporters foster new opportunities in a region where strong economic growth is driving demand for American exports of food and farm products.
The trade mission was based in Accra, Ghana, and included buyer delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal.
On Tuesday, October 29, the Deputy Secretary Censky led a roundtable discussion with University of Ghana representatives of the schools of veterinary medicine, agriculture, and animal science about the link between Ghanaian agriculture education and agriculture production.
That evening, Deputy Secretary Censky met with the American Chamber of Commerce-Ghana (AMCHAM) to confer about the current business climate in Ghana, potential regional agricultural and export opportunities for U.S. products, and networked with AMCHAM members in the food and agricultural sector.
On Wednesday, October 30, he met with the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta to discuss opportunities for U.S. businesses in Ghana and how U.S. agribusinesses can contribute to Ghana’s vision for agricultural sector prosperity.
The Deputy Secretary also met with the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee of Parliament.
During this meeting, Deputy Secretary Censky discussed with Ghanaian legislators U.S. engagement and investment in the Ghanaian agriculture sector as well as the benefits of U.S. agricultural trade to domestic industries and Ghanaian consumers.
“At the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) we are working to sell the bounty of American agriculture. West Africa is a bright spot with a growing middle class that are hungry for our delicious and wholesome agriculture products,” said Deputy Secretary Censky. “Through this trade mission and other efforts, USDA is proud to support President Trump’s Prosper Africa initiative, which is seeking to boost two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa. Prosper Africa brings together the full range of U.S. government resources to connect U.S. and African businesses with new buyers, suppliers, and investment opportunities – a win for the United States and for countries across the African continent.”
Deputy Secretary Censky was joined by Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Steve Wellman, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, officials from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and representatives from the following companies and organizations:
1. AFRO Plus Logistics, Bear, Delaware
2. American Premier Meat, Connersville, Indiana
3. American Soybean Association/World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, St. Louis, Missouri
4. Anna Carter’s The Seed Lady, Los Angeles, California
5. Archer Daniels Midland Company, Chicago, Illinois
6. Berkeley Capital Group, Inc, New York, New York
7. Crown Products, Inc, Metairie, Louisiana
8. CTB, Inc., Milford, Indiana
9. DAUUS Company, Bloomington, Minnesota
10. East West International Group, Inc, Moreland, Ohio
11. Fobrose Group, Houston, Texas
12. Geotan Enterprises, LLC, Humble, Texas
13. Ghantex Holdings Limited, Houston, Texas
14. Global Export Marketing Co. Ltd., New York, New York
15. Green Plains Inc., Omaha, Nebraska
16. Growth Energy, Washington, D.C.
17. Hills Harvest, College Park, Maryland
18. International Feed Corporation, Excelsior, Minnesota
19. I.P.P International, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
20. JBR International Trade Group, Inc., DuPont, Washington
21. Livestock Exporters Association of the USA, Chicago, Illinois
22. Marquis Energy, Hennepin, Illinois
23. Mariani Packing Company, Vacaville, California
24. National Swine Registry, West Lafayette, Indiana
25. Neil Jones Food Company, Vancouver, Washington
26. North Star Food Trading LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota
27. Now International, Bloomingdale, Illinois
28. Oakmont & Associates, Addison, Texas
29. Perdue Foods, Salisbury, Maryland
30. Steel City Global Trading, LLC, Enterprise, Alabama
31. St. Louis African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis, Missouri
32. Tam Global Consultants, Portland, Oregon
33. Tomex Foods, Inc. Lombard, Illinois
34. Triad Fisheries Ltd, Portland, Oregon
35. U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc., Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
36. U.S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C.
37. U.S. Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, Missouri
38. U.S. Wheat Associates, Arlington, Virginia
39. United Source One, Belcamp, Maryland
40. Virginia Natural Beef Inc., Lexington, Virginia
41. Wakava Food and Beverage, LLC, St. Louis, Missouri
42. Wygold LLC, Woodland, California
