President John Dramani Mahama has urged global investors to consider Ghana as a strategic destination for investment and a gateway to the wider African market.
Delivering the keynote address at the Africa Business Investment Summit (ABIS) 2026 in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the President, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Sampson Ahi said Ghana was confident that Africa had entered a period of significant economic opportunity.
The summit, held at MGM National Harbor, brought together government officials, investors, development finance institutions, business executives and private-sector representatives to explore investment opportunities and strategies for sustainable economic growth across Africa.
According to Mahama, Ghana’s economic transformation agenda is being supported by reforms aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability, expanding productive capacity, attracting investment and creating more opportunities for inclusive growth.
He said the government’s vision extends beyond economic recovery to a broader transformation programme focused on industrialisation, value addition, increased productivity and job creation.
Among the initiatives highlighted was the 24-Hour Economy Programme, alongside the Investment Opportunities Mapping Project, both of which are intended to increase production, identify viable investment opportunities and spread economic activity across the country.
Mahama said Ghana is open to investment in a range of sectors, including energy, technology, agriculture, mining, tourism, maritime development, infrastructure and manufacturing.
Feed Ghana Programme
The President also presented the Feed Ghana Programme as a key component of the country’s agricultural transformation strategy.
He said the programme would seek to increase domestic food production, reduce dependence on imports, create employment and provide industries with reliable supplies of locally produced raw materials.
Ghana’s industrialisation drive was also highlighted, particularly the development of industrial parks and special economic zones such as the Greater Kumasi Industrial City and Special Economic Zone, the Dawa Industrial Zone and the Tema Integrated Industrial Park.
Mahama said the projects were intended to expand manufacturing, promote value addition and improve the country’s competitiveness.
He further drew attention to Ghana’s strategic position as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
According to him, the position gives Ghana an important advantage as a base for investors seeking access to an African market of more than 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP exceeding US$3.5 trillion.
He described the AfCFTA as one of the world’s major emerging economic opportunities, with the potential to connect markets, expand intra-African trade and create new opportunities for businesses.
“Let history record that we did not only gather to speak about Africa’s future. We gathered to invest in it, and to build it,” Ahi said on behalf of the President.
Otumfuo calls for stronger governance
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who attended the summit, also urged investors to recognise Africa’s economic potential while calling on African governments to strengthen governance and create conditions that encourage sustainable investment.
He said good governance should be viewed not only as a political responsibility but also as an economic asset capable of boosting investor confidence and attracting long-term capital.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, called for investment partnerships that create opportunities for young Africans and reduce the pressure on them to leave the continent in search of better prospects.
He said investors and governments should focus on partnerships that create jobs, develop skills and contribute to Africa’s long-term prosperity.
Ghana’s central message at ABIS 2026 was clear: “Invest in Ghana. Invest in Africa,” as the country seeks to position itself at the centre of the continent’s emerging investment and economic opportunities.
