Canadians across the globe celebrated the country's 159th birthday with concerts, parades and fireworks on July 1, 2026.
Canada Day highlights the richness of the land, its diversity, culture and above all, the contributions of the people. Canada Day is also a day to reflect on what it means to be Canadian, to share what makes them proud and to celebrate.
On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act (today known as the Constitution Act, 1867) created Canada, and on June 20, 1868, Governor General Lord Monck signed a proclamation that requested all Her Majesty's subjects across Canada to celebrate July 1.
PM of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, in a statement to celebrate the Day, noted that Canada was a nation of kind, compassionate, hardworking people, “as remarkable and diverse as the places we call home all across Canada”.
“Ours is a country that spans three oceans, six time zones, and ten million square kilometres of breathtaking landscape, built and bound by a great conviction that we are strongest when we are united,” he stated.
“That conviction was declared at our Confederation in 1867, a founding bet that together we could build something greater than the sum of our parts.
It was laid down in steel in 1885, when a national railway linked east to west.
And it crossed a continent again in 1962, when the Trans-Canada Highway opened, connecting communities from St John’s to Victoria.
“Canadians have never just imagined a stronger, more united country.
We’ve picked up our tools and built one. At this decisive moment, we are choosing to build big once again with Canadian workers, Canadian materials, and Canadian values.
“Choosing Canadian produce. Rediscovering our own country, from the Cabot Trail to the Columbia Icefield, from the Bay of Fundy to the northern lights.
Small acts of solidarity, repeated millions of times, prove that together we can give ourselves far more than anyone could ever take away,” he added.
High Commissioner
In Ghana, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, led the celebration with impressive cultural performances where Canadian companies operating in Ghana treated patrons with some of their products.
Addressing the large gathering of government officials, Members of Parliament, the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, academia and Canadians community in Ghana during Canada’s National Day celebration in Accra, the High Commissioner stated that the partnership between Canada and Ghana continued to grow across trade and investment, education, development cooperation, peace and security, and most importantly, the connections between the people.
Trade between Ghana and Canada rose sharply in 2025, expanding by 56.00 per cent to US$752 million as commercial relations between the two countries gathered momentum and investment interest in Ghana continued to strengthen.
Economic engagement
The figure signals a deepening of bilateral economic engagement and reflects a gradual shift in the Ghana–Canada relationship from one historically anchored in development cooperation to one increasingly shaped by trade, investment and private-sector partnerships.
According to the High Commissioner, Canadian companies are expanding their presence in Ghana, bringing capital, technology and technical expertise into sectors considered important to the country’s long-term economic transformation.
The trade growth comes at a time when Ghana is working to position itself as a regional investment and production hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
With the AfCFTA Secretariat based in Accra, Ghana continues to market itself as a gateway for investors seeking access to wider African markets.
Opportunities
For Canada, Ghana presents opportunities across mining, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, digital innovation, education, logistics and advanced manufacturing.
These sectors align with Ghana’s push to attract investment that supports value addition, job creation and export diversification.
Canada is strengthening its engagement across Africa because it recognises the continent’s energy, innovation, and central role in shaping the global future, with its Africa Strategy focused on building partnerships that deliver real impact, supporting sustainable growth, peace and security, and opportunities for women and youth.
Investment summit
Later this year, Canada plans to host an investment summit to connect international investors with emerging opportunities in Ghana and across Africa. The planned summit is expected to provide a platform for businesses, financiers and policymakers to explore investment-ready projects and deepen cooperation in priority sectors.
The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, who represented the government of Ghana at the celebration, indicated that the occasion was a meaningful reminder of the enduring friendship between Ghana and Canada, built over nearly seven decades on shared values of democracy, peace, mutual respect and cooperation.
Ghana-Canada relations
The Ghana-Canada relations had evolved beyond traditional development cooperation into a modern partnership driven by trade, investment, innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Ghana also welcomed the growing Canadian investments in sectors, including agribusiness, renewable energy, digital transformation, manufacturing, infrastructure and responsible mining, which offered significant opportunities for job creation and industrial development.
Ghana’s position as a host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) made the country an ideal gateway for Canadian businesses seeking access to Africa’s expanding market of more than 1.4 billion people.
Deepening collaboration
Ghana look forward to deepening collaboration in trade, investment, innovation, digital transformation, energy, education, and skills development. Ghana remains committed to strengthening partnerships that create opportunities and shared prosperity for our people.
