Canada is stepping up its investment partnership with Ghana, with a strong emphasis on responsible mining, trade and private sector growth, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ms Myriam Montrat, has said.

She noted that the long-standing relationship between the two countries was no longer defined solely by diplomacy, but increasingly by investments that create jobs, build local capacity and support sustainable development.

Speaking at Canada’s 159th National Day celebration, Ms Montrat said responsible Canadian investment, particularly in mining—alongside expanding trade and private sector collaboration, continued to drive inclusive economic growth in Ghana.

She indicated that Ghana and Canada were currently enjoying one of their strongest bilateral relationships, anchored on growing trade and investment, responsible mining, development cooperation, education, peace and security, as well as strong people-to-people ties.

Ms Montrat further pointed out that Canadian companies operating in Ghana were contributing to national development by bringing in expertise, technology and innovation across key sectors of the economy.

Her remarks come at a time when Ghana is pushing for greater value addition, increased local participation and more sustainable practices within the mining industry.

According to her, responsible investment in mining goes beyond mineral extraction, contributing significantly to job creation, skills development, environmental protection and long-term community development.

Galiano Gold’s operations at the Asanko Gold Mine were cited as a clear example. The company’s localisation strategy, she said, had resulted in 99.9 per cent of its workforce being Ghanaian, reflecting a strong commitment to developing local talent and supporting Ghana’s long-term economic growth.

Beyond employment, the company is said to be running graduate trainee programmes, community apprenticeship schemes and other skills development initiatives aimed at preparing young Ghanaians for careers in mining.

Its investments also cover scholarships and community development projects in areas such as education, agriculture, health, enterprise development, and water and sanitation, while maintaining strict environmental standards and compliance with Ghana’s regulations.

In addition, the company has built long-term partnerships with host communities to promote sustainable socio-economic development and improve livelihoods.

Ms Montrat also announced that bilateral trade between Ghana and Canada reached US$752 million in 2025, representing a 56 per cent increase over the previous year. She described the growth as a clear sign of the strengthening commercial ties between the two countries.

For his part, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, said the relationship between Ghana and Canada had evolved beyond traditional development cooperation into a modern partnership driven by trade, investment, innovation and sustainability.

He said Ghana welcomed increasing Canadian investments in sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, digital transformation, manufacturing, infrastructure and responsible mining, noting that these areas held strong potential for job creation and industrial growth.