The Africa Business Investment Summit 2026 has ended in Washington, D.C., with Ghana making a strong case for increased foreign direct investment and strategic partnerships to accelerate economic transformation.
The two-day summit, held under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, brought together policymakers, investors, business leaders, development partners and members of the African diaspora for high level dialogue and investment focused conversations on Africa’s economic future.
Held in the United States capital, the Summit provided a platform for exploring investment opportunities across key sectors including diaspora investment, critical minerals, trade, fintech, energy, infrastructure, tourism and the creative economy.
The event attracted participants from across Africa and the United States, including government officials, private sector executives, fund managers, entrepreneurs and diaspora leaders seeking to deepen economic cooperation between Africa and the rest of the world.
Ghana was represented by the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), formerly known as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), with a high powered delegation led by its Acting Board Chair, Dr Akwesi Oppong Fosu, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdul Razak Baba.
In his address, Dr. Oppong Fosu highlighted the Authority’s expanded mandate and its renewed focus on positioning Ghana as a premier investment destination on the continent. He explained that GIPA is being repositioned not only as an investment promotion agency but as a strategic driver of Ghana’s economic transformation agenda.
According to him, Ghana’s investment drive is anchored on value addition, industrialisation, export development and job creation, with a deliberate emphasis on sectors that can deliver inclusive and sustainable growth.
Dr. Oppong Fosu stressed the importance of investment in driving Ghana’s economic transformation, noting that the country is pursuing bold reforms to improve the business environment, strengthen investor confidence and ensure that investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
“Investment remains critical to Ghana’s economic transformation. We are focused on attracting quality investments that create jobs, promote technology transfer, add value to our natural resources and support our long-term development aspirations.”
Dr.Ofosu
GIPA Board Chair Highlights Diaspora Role in Ghana’s Development Agenda
He also underscored the role of the diaspora as a key partner in Ghana’s development, noting that government is committed to creating pathways for diaspora participation in the economy through investment, knowledge transfers and enterprise development.
On his part, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GIPA, Mr Abdul Razak Baba, presented Ghana’s compelling investment proposition to participants at the Summit. He outlined Ghana’s strong economic fundamentals, strategic location as a gateway to Africa, access to a market of over 400 million people under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) headquartered in Accra, as well as a stable political environment and investor friendly legal framework.
Mr. Baba highlighted the country’s attractive investment incentives, including tax holidays, customs duty exemptions, locational incentives and other benefits available to strategic investments under Ghana’s investment laws.
He further detailed priority sectors where investors can take advantage of emerging opportunities, including agribusiness and agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, mining and critical minerals, digital economy and fintech, infrastructure and real estate, tourism, and the creative economy.
According to him, Ghana’s focus on value addition in its critical minerals sector, including lithium, bauxite and manganese, presents significant opportunities for investors interested in green minerals and electric vehicle value chains.
He also drew attention to opportunities in the fintech and digital innovation space, noting that Ghana has become one of Africa’s leading fintech hubs with a vibrant start-up ecosystem and progressive regulatory environment.
Mr. Baba assured investors of GIPA’s commitment to providing end-to-end investor support, from entry facilitation to aftercare services, to ensure that investments are efficiently established and sustained.
“The Ghana Investment Promotion Authority stands ready to facilitate your investment journey. From business registration, permits and incentives to linking you with local partners and providing aftercare, we are your partner in Ghana’s growth story.”
Mr. Baba
Asantehene’s Patronage Highlights Role of Traditional Leadership in Economic Diplomacy
The Summit, under the patronage of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, also highlighted the importance of traditional leadership in promoting cultural diplomacy and economic cooperation. His Majesty’s presence underscored the Summit’s broader goal of strengthening ties between Africa and its diaspora while promoting heritage, investment and trade.
Sessions at the Summit covered a wide range of topics, including how to unlock diaspora capital for development, financing Africa’s infrastructure gap, harnessing critical minerals for industrialisation, leveraging fintech for financial inclusion, and positioning tourism and the creative industries as drivers of economic growth.
Participants commended Ghana’s active participation and consistent reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business. Several investors expressed interest in exploring opportunities in Ghana, particularly in manufacturing, energy, agribusiness and technology.
The Africa Business Investment Summit 2026 is expected to lead to new partnerships, investment pledges and enhanced collaboration between African governments, the private sector and the diaspora community.
For Ghana, the engagement in Washington forms part of a broader strategy by GIPA to intensify investment promotion activities in key markets, including the United States, Europe and the Middle East, in line with government’s agenda to attract at least US$10 billion in foreign direct investment annually and to create sustainable jobs for the youth.
Officials of the Authority say they will continue to follow up on leads and conversations from the Summit to ensure they translate into actual investments on the ground.
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