By David Sullivan, Director of Economic Development & Business Recruitment

WORCESTER – On July 15, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Ambassador of Ghana to the United States, Hajia Alima Mahama, to Worcester while she was on a visit to Massachusetts.

During the Friday afternoon event, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Tim Murray and Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito welcomed the ambassador. They were joined by state legislators and regional business leaders in a conference room on the top floor of the Mercantile Center tower at 100 Front Street, overlooking downtown Worcester. In addition to her embassy staff, Ambassador Mahama was joined by members of the Worcester Ghanaian-Americans community many of whom helped bring the Ambassador to Worcester.

Worcester and Ghana have a strong connection with a vibrant community of immigrants that are part of the Ghanaian diaspora. In fact, Worcester has the highest concentration of Ghanaian immigrants in the United States. Thousands of Ghanaians live in Worcester, and they represent the largest ethnic group of Worcester’s foreign-born residents.

In attendance at the event were several dignitaries and business leaders. State legislators in attendance included State Senators Michael Moore and Anne Gobi and State Representatives Daniel Donahue, David LeBoeuf, and Mary Keefe. Acting Worcester City Manager Eric Batista, Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis, and City Councilor Khrystian King were all present as well. Business leaders from the Chamber’s board of directors, including board chair and Fallon Health Vice President Christine Cassidy, Quinsigamond Community College President Luis Pedraja, WPI Assistant Vice President Kola Akindele, UniBank CEO Michael Welch, Fidelity Bank Senior Vice President Eric Torkornoo, and The Guru Tax and Financial Services CEO Satya Mitra were in attendance for the discussion as well.

The Lieutenant Governor welcomed the Ambassador, saying, “I hope that you are feeling the love today because we feel the love of over 50,000 Ghanaians in Central Massachusetts every day!” She made sure to note the Commonwealth’s economic growth in life sciences, high tech, and infrastructure, and the need to fill those growing sectors with talent.

Ambassador Mahama showed the attendees a video produced by her government that highlighted Ghana’s growth as an economic powerhouse in West Africa. Ghana’s GDP is $72 billion, and the economy grew at a rapid pace of 7% between 2017 and 2019. Because of the African Continental Free Trade Area, a multinational economic cooperation treaty that allows free trade between every country in Africa, Ghana is effectively an international gateway for trade to the entire continent. Ghana’s strongest industries are manufacturing, mining, agriculture, food processing, and lumber.

“Thank you for all the beautiful things you say about Ghanaians in Worcester, we are so proud,” said Ambassador Mahama in response to the Lieutenant Governor. She said that there were partnerships o be explored between New England’s second-largest city and Ghana. “We are looking for business collaboration in manufacturing and other sectors,” said the ambassador.

Sheriff Evangelidis, who is also the chair of the board for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates Logan International Airport and Worcester Regional Airport, pointed out that he is having conversations about potential direct flights to Ghana. “At Massport, we look at ourselves as the economic engine of the region,” said Sheriff Evangelidis. “I’m excited to continue a conversation that will hopefully lead to some very fruitful developments.” In response, Ambassador Mahama noted the daily flights from DC and New York City to Ghana, and how they are always filled, mostly with Ghanaian-Americans coming back and forth between their home countries.

Tim Murray concluded the event with a promise of a follow-up. “Continuing this conversation, we will include MassDevelopment, the Commonwealth’s Office of International Trade and Investment, and other leaders to pursue some mutually beneficial opportunities,” he said. Ambassador Mahama responded, saying, “There are many things that Ghana and Worcester can do together.”