Trade Minister Urges Ghanaian Artisans to Seize SIAO 2026 Opportunities as Ghana Plans Ouagadougou Trade House

Ghana’s Trade Minister has called on the country’s artisans and creative industry operators to use the 18th International Arts and Handicraft Trade Show of Ouagadougou as a springboard for regional expansion, as Accra announced plans to establish a permanent trade presence in the Burkinabè capital.

Speaking at the Ghana Day Celebration on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in Ouagadougou, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said Ghana’s participation as Guest Country of Honour at SIAO 2026 represented a strategic opportunity to showcase the country’s creative industry, deepen trade ties with Burkina Faso, and advance intra-African commerce. Her keynote address was delivered on her behalf by Ghana’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Kenneth Akibate .

A Platform of Consequence

The scale of SIAO 2026 underscores its significance. The fair, which opened on October 30 and runs until November 8, was expected to attract more than 6,000 artisans and exhibitors, over 100 international buyers, and upwards of 800,000 visitors, with approximately 800 exhibition stands . Ghanaian exhibitors are presenting their products across three designated halls—Soleil Levant, Pyramide, and Le Faso—where local enterprises are engaging with the international market .

The event’s theme, “African Crafts and Industrialisation: What Synergy for Better Organisation and Promotion of Local Products and Cultural Heritage,” aligns with Ghana’s broader strategy to position the creative industry as a driver of employment, export diversification, and regional industrialisation .

Trade House on the Horizon

The most concrete outcome of the Ghana Day proceedings was the announcement by Rashid Raymond Kramer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, that Ghana would soon establish a trade house in Ouagadougou. The facility, he said, would facilitate trade between the two countries and provide a dedicated platform for businesses to access each other’s markets beyond the biennial exhibition .

The proposed trade house builds on a trade relationship that has been expanding steadily. Ghana’s exports to Burkina Faso rose from US637 million in 2025, according to figures cited by the Information Services Department . The Burkinabè market has become an increasingly important outlet for Ghanaian goods, from eggs to manufactured products, even as the two countries have navigated periodic trade frictions over tomatoes and poultry .

Diplomatic Weight

The Ghana Day celebration drew the attendance of Burkina Faso’s Interim Prime Minister, H.E. Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, who acknowledged Ghana’s participation as Guest Country of Honour and commended the country’s contribution to the fair. He underscored the importance of sustained cooperation between the two nations, particularly in advancing their cultural and economic interests .

Minister Ofosu-Adjare expressed Ghana’s appreciation to the government and people of Burkina Faso, as well as the organisers of SIAO 2026, for the warm reception and the opportunity to showcase Ghana’s cultural heritage, creativity, and economic potential .

Beyond Representation

For Ghanaian artisans, the opportunity extends beyond cultural display. The Minister emphasised that traditional craftsmanship represents a valuable economic asset capable of generating employment and expanding Ghana’s presence in international markets . The exhibition offers local businesses the chance to connect with potential buyers, distributors, and investors across the continent and beyond.

The message to exhibitors was clear: improving production standards, product presentation, and business organisation would be essential to competing effectively in regional and international markets. As Ghana’s creative sector seeks to transition from cultural showcase to commercial driver, the combination of SIAO’s visibility and the planned Ouagadougou trade house could provide the infrastructure that has long been missing.