Ghana’s ability to attract investment that helps local businesses expand, create jobs and compete in larger markets will be a key question as African leaders, investors and policymakers gather in London for the 2026 Financial Times Africa Summit.
The two-day summit, scheduled from today October 21 to 22, will examine how African economies can mobilise capital, strengthen domestic markets and respond to changes in global trade and investment. These discussions have direct implications for Ghana, where access to finance and the ability of businesses to attract long-term investment remain central to private-sector growth.
President John Dramani Mahama is among the confirmed speakers and is scheduled to participate in a keynote interview on the first day of the summit.
The gathering, under the theme “Mobilising Growth in a New Global Order,” comes as African economies seek to attract more investment amid shifting trade relationships, changing global alliances and uncertainty over the movement of capital.
For Ghana, the question extends beyond attracting foreign investors. It is also about mobilising domestic capital and directing investment towards businesses capable of increasing production, expanding exports and creating sustainable employment.
Making the case for Ghanaian businesses
The summit will explore ways to mobilise domestic capital, the role of financial technology in expanding access to finance, and how small and medium-sized enterprises can attract investment and scale their operations.
These issues are particularly relevant to Ghanaian businesses seeking the funding needed to purchase equipment, adopt new technology, increase production and enter new markets.
While attracting foreign capital can bring funding, expertise and access to international markets, Ghana’s investment case also depends on whether local enterprises can secure financing to grow and participate in the opportunities investment creates.
The challenge is to make Ghana an attractive destination for investors while ensuring that capital reaches productive sectors and businesses with the potential to expand.
Discussions at the summit are expected to consider the investment environment, business expansion and the reforms needed to mobilise capital. For Ghana, these issues raise questions about how effectively the country can present opportunities to investors and connect incoming investment to the growth of domestic enterprises.
Trade shifts create opportunities and risks
The summit will also examine the implications of tariffs, changing trade policies and global alliances for African economies, alongside the continent’s commercial relationships with the Gulf states, China and India.
These shifts could create opportunities for Ghana to diversify its trading relationships, attract investment into manufacturing and other productive sectors, and increase the value of its exports.
However, attracting capital requires more than identifying new markets. Investors must also see viable opportunities to produce goods and services, reach customers and earn sustainable returns.
For Ghanaian businesses, stronger regional trade and access to wider markets could support expansion. But translating those opportunities into growth will depend on the ability of enterprises to raise capital, improve productivity and compete beyond the domestic market.
The summit’s discussions on investment risks, economic reforms and regional demand will therefore be relevant to Ghana’s efforts to position local businesses for growth in a changing global economy.
Leaders and investors converge in London
The summit will bring together political leaders, business executives and policymakers to discuss Africa’s economic prospects and its place in the changing global order.
Other confirmed speakers include former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, industrialist Aliko Dangote, Mo Ibrahim, UK Minister for International Development Kristy Mcneill and Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide.
The programme will cover finance, capital mobilisation, business growth, urbanisation, economic reform and inclusive growth. It will also examine the implications of US-Africa policy and the strategic importance of trade routes, including the Red Sea corridor.
The event will feature the Africa Sustainable Futures Awards in partnership with the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
For Ghana, the significance of the summit will lie not simply in its high-level participation, but in how effectively the country can make its investment case to the people and institutions capable of financing business expansion.
Attracting more capital is only part of the task. The larger test is whether Ghana can turn investor interest into financing for local businesses, stronger productive capacity, higher-value exports and jobs.
