Black Star Square / Independence Arch, Accra Photo Credit: NANA KWANDOH.
Lasted updated at 1:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
The V.I. Economic Development Authority on Monday launched what officials described as the next step in building stronger economic ties with Ghana, unveiling a new economic development mission centered on investment, infrastructure, tourism, labor, and cultural exchange.
According to EDA Chief Executive Officer Wayne Biggs Jr., the effort is designed to move beyond discussion and toward formal agreements and practical next steps, as government leaders, private-sector representatives, and innovators from West Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands meet this week across multiple sectors.
“I’m proud to formally announce the West Africa-U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Mission,” Mr. Biggs said, explaining that the initiative begins with a “multi-day, multi-sector engagement that brings together government leaders, private sector investors, and innovators from West Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
Mr. Biggs said the mission is focused on “concrete opportunities and technology, infrastructure, housing, energy, labor and tourism sectors,” and noted that the West African delegation includes both public- and private-sector officials.
According to Mr. Biggs, this week’s discussions will center on “digital infrastructure, affordable housing, energy security, construction, labor mobility, tourism and cultural heritage, banking and financial services and cultural exchange.”
“Every meeting this week is structured around one question, how do we move from conversation to commitment?” Mr. Biggs said, adding that the administration is pursuing a memorandum of understanding and concrete next steps.
Maame Efua Houadjeto, chief executive officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, pointed to cultural and historical ties between the two regions, particularly shared influences in music and heritage, as a basis for economic diplomacy.
"At the Ghana Tourism Authority, we see tourism as more than travel. It is a powerful connector. It brings everybody together and every business together," she said.
She added that Ghana intends to bring its creative energy and music to the territory during an upcoming summit in July.
Members of the delegation also indicated that they are exploring opportunities tied to labor mobility and to business platforms developed in Africa that could help create economic opportunities in the Virgin Islands.
John P. Woods, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, said the effort is intended to be reciprocal and confirmed that a separate, private trip of locals to Ghana is scheduled for the end of May.That trip has been deemed a "spiritual journey," titled "Sankofa Pilgrimage 2026".
The government's delegation upcoming trip is set for July, according to Richard Motta, head of communications for the Bryan administration.
The mission will also include meetings with officials from several Virgin Islands government agencies, including the Housing Finance Authority, the Department of Public Works, and the Office of Disaster Recovery, as discussions continue on infrastructure and workforce development.
Correction: April 22, 2026
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Virgin Islands’ reciprocal official delegation to Ghana was scheduled for the end of May. The end-of-May trip referenced by John P. Woods is a separate private journey, the “Sankofa Pilgrimage 2026.” According to Government House Communications Director Richard Motta, the government’s delegation trip is scheduled for July. The story has been updated.
Advertisements
