UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, and UK Trade Envoy to Ghana, Adam Afriyie, visited Blue Skies today with the British High Commission to Ghana to see how the company is managing to export high quality value-added fresh-fruit products and employ over three thousand people, despite the challenges being faced by the business in Ghana.
Founder and Chairman, Anthony Pile, introduced the visitors to the ‘fresh-from-harvest’ prepared fruits and freshly squeezed juices made by Blue Skies and highlighted the major challenges preventing the company from expanding further in Ghana. Anthony spoke of how a managed exchange rate with rising inflation was hurting exporters and emphasised how expensive yet poor energy supply was damaging machinery and eroding profitability. He also highlighted how declining agriculture in Ghana was making it difficult for the business to meet demand from some of its European customers.
Anthony said “we are delighted to have hosted the UK Minister for Africa and the UK Trade Envoy to our factory in Ghana and to have the opportunity to talk openly about the opportunities and challenges faced by Blue Skies in Ghana.”
Pictured: Anthony Pile (third from left) with UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge (to his right), and UK Trade Envoy to Ghana, Adam Afriyie (to his left)