Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has said his diplomatic engagements are aimed at improving economic opportunities for Ghanaian youth at home to prevent them from becoming victims of harsh treatment by US law enforcement agencies, particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“I don’t want my people to be molested by ICE,” Ambassador Smith stated during an economic and agribusiness engagement with the Senator for the State of Pennsylvania, Scott Martin.

He explained that creating jobs and expanding investment opportunities in Ghana would significantly reduce irregular migration and the vulnerabilities faced by young Ghanaians abroad.

Highlighting Ghana’s investment potential, the Ambassador pointed to the country’s strategic positioning as a gateway to the African market.

“Ghana offers investors access to a billion-dollar African market, backed by political stability and a growing private sector,” he said, encouraging US businesses to explore opportunities in key sectors of the economy.

Ambassador Smith also raised concerns about Ghana’s heavy dependence on food imports, which he said continues to place immense pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

“Rice importation alone accounts for one of the largest outflows of foreign exchange. We must invest in domestic agriculture to reverse this trend and secure our economic future,” he noted.

Senator Scott Martin, for his part, outlined Pennsylvania’s agricultural strategy and identified areas of agribusiness interest.

“There are clear opportunities for collaboration between Pennsylvania and Ghana, particularly in agriculture and value-added processing,” he said, expressing interest in a partnership that delivers mutual benefits.

Speaking on behalf of the US–Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Florence Torson-Hart observed that “no other US state mirrors Ghana’s agricultural practices and production culture as closely as Pennsylvania,” adding that Ghana should be a priority partner.

Meanwhile, President of Millersville University, Professor Daniel Wubah, noted that “there are strong institutional and cultural ties that make partnerships between Ghana and the Philadelphia region both natural and achievable.”

The engagement underscored agriculture as a long-term solution to Ghana’s rising import bill.

“By modernising farming practices, expanding agro-processing, and strengthening value chains, Ghana can feed itself and position agriculture as a major driver of economic growth,” Ambassador Smith said, describing the meeting as part of Ghana’s broader push for economic diplomacy, investment-led growth, and sustainable development.