- President Mahama Courts UK Investors as Ghana Seeks New Growth Partnerships
President John Dramani Mahama has presented Ghana as one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations, urging British and international investors to take advantage of the country’s improving economic conditions, political stability and expanding opportunities across key sectors of the economy.
Speaking at the Ghana-UK Investment Summit in London, the President said the gathering was taking place at a decisive moment for both Ghana and the African continent, as businesses reassess supply chains, diversify investment destinations and search for resilient growth markets amid shifting global economic conditions.
He said Ghana’s long-standing relationship with the United Kingdom was evolving beyond historical ties into stronger partnerships in trade, innovation, investment, education and democratic governance.
According to President Mahama, bilateral trade between Ghana and the UK currently exceeds £1.5 billion annually, but the relationship has the potential to grow significantly through increased cooperation in manufacturing, technology infrastructure, agribusiness, renewable energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, tourism, education and the digital economy.
“This summit is therefore not simply a networking event. It is a platform for building long-term partnerships capable of delivering jobs, innovation, industrial growth, and shared prosperity,” President Mahama said.
The President told investors that his administration inherited significant economic challenges, including high inflation, weak investor confidence, debt pressures and widespread uncertainty in the business environment.
He said the government responded through fiscal consolidation, institutional reforms, disciplined economic management and improved coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities.
As a result, he noted, inflation had fallen sharply from 23.8 per cent in December 2024 to 3.4 per cent in April 2026, while international reserves had increased from approximately $8.9 billion to nearly $13.9 billion.
President Mahama added that interest rates were easing, the Ghana cedi had strengthened against major international currencies and the country’s sovereign credit outlook had improved following recent ratings upgrades.
According to him, these developments are creating a more predictable operating environment for businesses by reducing uncertainty, improving currency stability and supporting long-term planning.
He further disclosed that Ghana’s economy expanded by about 6 per cent in 2025, with gross domestic product surpassing $114 billion, making the country the eighth-largest economy in Africa.
President Mahama said Ghana’s transformation agenda is anchored on building a productive, export-orientated, industrialised and technology-driven economy capable of creating jobs and delivering competitive returns for investors.
Central to that vision, he said, is the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative and Accelerated Export Development Programme.
Describing the 24-Hour Economy as a national productivity strategy rather than a slogan, the President said it seeks to maximise the use of infrastructure, industry, labour, logistics, sports and energy systems throughout the day and night.
The initiative, he said, is expected to increase productivity, stimulate manufacturing, create jobs, boost exports, deepen regional trade and improve competitiveness.
He noted that government is aligning infrastructure, financing, transportation, skills development and energy reliability to support businesses operating beyond traditional working hours, creating investment opportunities in logistics, industrial parks, warehousing, transport, agro-processing, manufacturing, information technology, retail and energy.
President Mahama identified agriculture as one of Ghana’s most promising investment sectors, highlighting the Feed Ghana Programme as a major vehicle for modernising agriculture and expanding agribusiness.
He said efforts were underway to establish agro-industrial enclaves, improve irrigation systems, support commercial farming and expand food processing and agricultural exports.
Investment opportunities, he said, exist across cocoa processing, oil palm, cashew, shea, horticulture, poultry, rice production, fisheries and cold chain logistics.
In the industry, the President said the government’s objective is to move Ghana higher up the global value chain by expanding value addition across strategic sectors.
“Our objective is simple. Ghana must become a production hub, not merely a source of raw commodities,” he stated.
He said this strategy covers cocoa, gold, lithium, bauxite, manganese, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automotive assembly and petrochemicals.
President Mahama also highlighted opportunities in renewable energy, gas development and climate-resilient infrastructure.
He disclosed that a memorandum of understanding signed with Tullow and the Jubilee Partners is expected to attract nearly $2 billion in investment for additional drilling activities to support Ghana’s energy sector.
Government, he added, is also proceeding with plans for a second gas processing plant.
On digital transformation, the President pointed to the recently launched National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the Million Coders Programme as part of efforts to position Ghana as a leading innovation and technology hub in Africa.
He said opportunities continue to expand in fintech, agritech, cybersecurity, data centres, health technology and artificial intelligence-driven services.
Infrastructure development, he added, remains a major priority under the government’s $10 billion five-year Big Push Programme, covering roads, railways, ports, housing, transport corridors and aviation infrastructure.
President Mahama said Ghana offers investors more than access to a domestic market of over 34 million people.
He described the country as a strategic gateway to the Economic Community of West African States market of more than 425 million people and the African Continental Free Trade Area, which serves more than 1.4 billion consumers.
He also highlighted Ghana’s political stability, independent judiciary, predictable legal system, peaceful transfer of power and strong democratic institutions as key advantages for investors.
The President noted that recent reforms, including changes to the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority framework, had strengthened investor protection, removed minimum capital requirements across several sectors and reduced bureaucratic barriers to doing business.
“To the international investors gathered here today, let me say this clearly: Ghana is open for business. We’re open to partnerships that create jobs, transfer technology, develop skills, support industrialisation, expand exports, and deliver sustainable growth,” President Mahama said.
He added that the government is ready to work with investors committed to long-term partnerships that promote mutual growth and shared prosperity for Ghana, the United Kingdom and the wider African continent.
The London pitch is not merely about attracting capital. It is about converting recent macroeconomic stability into factories, jobs, exports and technology-led productivity.
