President Mahama pitches Ghana as investment hub to American businesses
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to attract American investment, technology and manufacturing as the country seeks to expand value addition, energy and technology-driven industries.
Speaking at the NASDAQ in New York on Wednesday, September 23, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, President Mahama said Ghana’s improving macroeconomic conditions and political stability position the country as a strategic gateway to the African market.
He assured potential investors that Ghana has a stable power supply and encouraged American companies to explore opportunities in power generation, transmission and distribution, renewable energy and industrial energy solutions.
President Mahama urged American businesses to look beyond Ghana’s population of about 34 million and consider the country as a production and export hub for the wider African market.
He said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which brings together a market of more than 1.4 billion people, offers businesses established in Ghana access to opportunities across West Africa and the continent.
He noted that the AfCFTA Secretariat is headquartered in Accra, making Ghana strategically positioned to benefit from the implementation of the continental trade agreement.
President Mahama also linked Ghana’s investment prospects to the country’s expected chairmanship of the African Union in 2027.
He said Ghana intends to use the responsibility to support efforts towards infrastructure development, industrialisation, regional integration and the implementation of the AfCFTA.
According to him, areas such as roads, ports, reliable energy, digital connectivity and efficient border systems will be critical to deeper regional integration and present opportunities for American businesses.
President Mahama said Ghana’s investment priorities remain centred on agriculture, agribusiness, energy, mining, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and technology, but stressed the need for greater value addition.
He noted that Ghana produces commodities such as cocoa, gold and manganese, while farmers also cultivate cashew, shea, vegetables and grains. However, much of these products are exported in raw form, while Ghana imports finished goods that could be produced locally.
He said changing this pattern would help create jobs and strengthen Ghanaian businesses.
The President identified cocoa processing, cashew, shea, horticulture, grains, poultry, livestock and food manufacturing as areas with significant investment potential.
He explained that processing agricultural products locally would create markets for farmers while generating opportunities for processors, suppliers, transport operators and other businesses along the value chain.
President Mahama also identified digital infrastructure, data centres, artificial intelligence, financial technology and other technology-enabled services as areas with potential for increased US-Ghana cooperation.
President Mahama said Ghana and the United States have maintained a strong economic partnership, with trade in goods and services reaching approximately $4.6 billion in 2025.
He also highlighted Ghana’s more than two decades of participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
According to him, while Ghana values the development cooperation it has received from the United States, the next phase of the relationship should place greater emphasis on trade, investment, technology and productive enterprise.
He called on American companies to establish production facilities in Ghana, purchase from Ghanaian suppliers and share technology and expertise with local businesses and workers.
President Mahama said such partnerships could help produce goods and services not only for the Ghanaian market but also for Africa and the global market.
By Esther Padmore Amonoo
