Ghana has stepped up its drive to attract foreign investment, pitching the country as a gateway to Africa and urging investors to take advantage of opportunities created by ongoing economic reforms and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Sampson Ahi, made the pitch on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the Africa Business Investment Summit (ABIS) 2026 in Washington, D.C.
He told government officials, investors, development finance institutions and private-sector leaders gathered at MGM National Harbor that Ghana was ready to partner investors who shared confidence in Africa’s economic prospects.
Mr Ahi said Ghana’s economic reset had strengthened macroeconomic stability, economic growth and investor confidence, citing 6 per cent real GDP growth in 2025, with non-oil GDP expanding by 7.6 per cent.
He said the momentum continued into 2026, with the economy recording 6.4 per cent growth in the first quarter.
But the Deputy Minister said the government’s ambition went beyond economic recovery to transforming the economy through industrialisation, value addition, increased productivity and job creation.
He highlighted the 24-Hour Economy Programme and the Investment Opportunities Mapping Project as key initiatives aimed at expanding production and attracting investment across the country.
Mr Ahi identified energy, technology, agriculture, mining, tourism, maritime development, infrastructure and manufacturing as sectors offering significant investment opportunities.
He said the Feed Ghana Programme would make agriculture a major driver of transformation by increasing food production, reducing imports, creating jobs and providing industries with reliable raw materials.
Ghana’s industrialisation agenda, he added, would also be supported by industrial parks and special economic zones, including the Greater Kumasi Industrial City and Special Economic Zone, Dawa Industrial Zone and Tema Integrated Industrial Park.
Mr Ahi further pointed to Ghana’s hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat as a strategic advantage for investors seeking access to the continental market of more than 1.3 billion people, with a combined GDP exceeding $3.5 trillion.
He urged investors to view Ghana as an entry point into the wider African market.
“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,” he said.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who attended the summit, also urged investors to take Africa’s opportunities seriously while calling on African governments to create systems and an enabling environment capable of attracting sustainable investment.
He said good governance should be regarded not only as a political responsibility but also as an economic asset that could strengthen investor confidence and accelerate development.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Victor Smith, called for investments that create jobs and expand opportunities for Africa’s youth.
He said partnerships must help build an Africa where young people could realise their aspirations at home rather than being forced to leave the continent in search of opportunities.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
