The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Simon Madjie, has outlined the government’s key economic priorities for 2026, urging investors and private sector players to position themselves strategically to take advantage of emerging opportunities across critical sectors of the economy.
Speaking during an engagement with a Colombian business delegation in Accra, Mr Madjie said Ghana’s recent gains in macroeconomic stability had laid a solid foundation for the rollout of a focused growth agenda aimed at addressing long-standing structural challenges.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a state visit by Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, underscoring growing South–South economic diplomacy between the two countries.
Macroeconomic Stability And Infrastructure development as a Platform for Growth
Mr Madjie explained that the renewed macroeconomic stability achieved in recent months was not an end in itself but a platform for accelerated development. According to him, government policy over the medium term is designed to translate stability into tangible growth outcomes, particularly in infrastructure, agriculture and export-oriented industries.
He stressed that the focus for 2026 would be on unlocking private capital, improving productivity and building resilient value chains that can withstand external shocks. This, he noted, presents clear entry points for both domestic and foreign investors seeking long-term returns in a reforming economy.
Infrastructure development emerged as a central pillar of the government’s economic priorities. Mr Madjie disclosed that nearly US$3 billion is expected to be invested in the rehabilitation and construction of highways and major road networks across the country.
He explained that the scale of the planned projects would create significant opportunities for construction firms, engineering companies, suppliers of building materials and ancillary service providers. Beyond the immediate commercial benefits, improved road infrastructure is expected to enhance national connectivity, reduce transport costs and support trade and industrial activity across regions.
According to the GIPC boss, efficient infrastructure remains a critical enabler of competitiveness and is essential for attracting large-scale investments into manufacturing, agribusiness and logistics.
The 24-Hour Economy as an Accelerated Development Programme
Mr Madjie also highlighted the government’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development policy, widely referred to as the 24H+ initiative, describing it as an accelerated development programme rather than a simple extension of working hours.
He explained that the policy is designed to strengthen domestic production capacity, improve productivity and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in regional and global markets. By encouraging continuous production cycles and improving the utilisation of infrastructure and human capital, the initiative aims to make the economy more self-sufficient and export-driven.
The GIPC Chief Executive noted that the policy framework aligns closely with private sector investment priorities, particularly in manufacturing, agro-processing and logistics.
Transforming Agriculture and Strengthening Value Chains
Agriculture and value-chain expansion form another cornerstone of the government’s 2026 economic agenda. Mr Madjie pointed out that Ghana currently spends about US$3 billion annually on food imports, a situation government interventions are seeking to reverse.
He said the strategy goes beyond boosting food production to strengthening the entire agricultural value chain, from production and processing to storage and distribution. Improved linkages between farms and processing centres, he noted, would help reduce post-harvest losses, increase value addition and generate sustainable employment, especially for young people.
As part of the 24-hour economy agenda, he cited the Volta Economic Corridor programme, which aims to develop about two million hectares of land for year-round agricultural production. The initiative is expected to leverage water resources around the Volta River to support irrigation, all-season farming and plantation agriculture.
Mr Madjie further revealed plans to develop approximately 200,000 hectares of new cocoa farmland within the Volta Economic Corridor. The expansion is intended to boost cocoa output, strengthen export earnings and reinforce Ghana’s position in global cocoa markets.
He emphasised that the scale of the initiative offers opportunities for investors in plantation development, agro-inputs, processing and export logistics. Strategic partnerships, he said, would be crucial in maximising the economic impact of the programme while ensuring sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Strengthening Ghana–Colombia Economic Relations
Leading the Colombian delegation, Tito Rufino Yepes, reaffirmed Colombia’s commitment to deepening economic relations with Ghana. He outlined the Colombia Strategy for Africa, a framework aimed at expanding diplomatic, economic and cultural engagement across the continent.
Mr Yepes emphasised the importance of South–South cooperation, shared historical ties, particularly with Afro-descendant communities, and Colombia’s intention to draw on its development and peacebuilding experience to strengthen trade and strategic partnerships with Ghana and other African countries.
The engagement, both sides noted, signals growing interest in translating shared values into concrete investment and trade outcomes as Ghana positions its economy for accelerated growth in 2026 and beyond.
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