Ghana is positioning itself as a gateway for investors seeking access to Africa’s expanding market, with the government pointing to economic reforms, stronger growth and industrialization initiatives as the foundation for attracting fresh capital.
Deputy Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Sampson Ahi said Ghana recorded 6% real GDP growth in 2025, with non-oil GDP expanding 7.6%, while first-quarter growth in 2026 reached 6.4%. He made the remarks while delivering President John Dramani Mahama’s keynote address at the Africa Business Investment Summit in Washington, D.C.
The government is seeking to move beyond economic recovery toward an investment-led transformation centered on industrialization, value addition, productivity and job creation, Ahi said at the summit held at MGM National Harbor.
“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.
Ghana is promoting its position as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat as a key advantage for investors looking to serve the wider continent. The AfCFTA connects more than 1.3 billion people and represents a combined economic market exceeding $3.5 trillion, according to the government.
Investment push
Ahi highlighted the government’s 24-Hour Economy Programme and Investment Opportunities Mapping Project as initiatives aimed at boosting production, attracting capital and spreading economic opportunities across the country.
Investment opportunities span energy, technology, agriculture, mining, tourism, maritime development, infrastructure and manufacturing, he said.
The government’s Feed Ghana Programme is also intended to increase agricultural production, reduce reliance on imports and provide industries with locally produced raw materials while creating jobs.
Industrialization is another central part of the investment strategy, with the government highlighting the Greater Kumasi Industrial City and Special Economic Zone, Dawa Industrial Zone and Tema Integrated Industrial Park as platforms for expanding manufacturing.
The initiatives are being presented to international investors as part of Ghana’s broader effort to translate improving macroeconomic conditions into productive investment and employment.
Governance as investment asset
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who attended the summit, urged investors to take Africa’s opportunities seriously while calling on governments to build systems capable of supporting sustainable investment.
He said good governance should be viewed not only as a political responsibility but also as an economic asset that can strengthen investor confidence and accelerate development.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Victor Smith, said investment should help create an Africa where young people can build careers and businesses without being forced to seek opportunities outside the continent.
The summit brought together government officials, investors, development-finance institutions and business leaders to discuss investment and enterprise opportunities across Africa.
