Ghana has stepped up efforts to attract strategic investment from the United States, hosting a high-level investor roundtable in New York aimed at showcasing opportunities across key sectors of its economy.

The 7th Ghana Investor Roundtable brought together American investors, financial institutions and members of the Ghanaian diaspora, as part of a broader push to position the country as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event, held at Orrick’s New York office, forms part of Ghana’s economic diplomacy strategy to mobilise capital into priority sectors and deepen trade and investment ties with the US.

Addressing participants, Ghana’s ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, said the country’s investment outlook had improved following recent macroeconomic reforms.

“Meaningful partnerships are built where vision, infrastructure and opportunity intersect,” he said, urging the diaspora to work with American investors to support development and job creation.

He pointed to efforts to stabilise the economy through fiscal discipline, debt management and increased private sector participation, adding that Ghana remained on track to exit its International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme by August 2026.

The ambassador also reiterated the government’s message that Ghana is open for business, describing the country as increasingly investment-ready.

Focus on priority sectors

Discussions at the roundtable highlighted opportunities in finance and fintech, agribusiness, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, tourism and the creative economy.

These sectors are central to Ghana’s industrialisation drive and its ambition to tap into the AfCFTA’s market of more than one billion people.

The Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Abdul Razak, outlined incentives available to investors and ongoing efforts to improve the ease of doing business.

Investor concerns and interest

Participants raised questions about Ghana’s ability to sustain macroeconomic stability after its IMF programme, as well as concerns around policy consistency and regulatory predictability.

Other issues included access to investment incentives, the availability of bankable projects and opportunities for diaspora-led partnerships.

Despite these concerns, the discussions reflected growing interest in Ghana’s economic prospects, particularly as the country seeks to leverage its position within the AfCFTA framework for regional expansion.

Strengthening investment ties

The New York meeting is part of a series of engagements by Ghana’s embassy aimed at strengthening US-Ghana trade relations and increasing diaspora participation in the economy.

Officials say improved macroeconomic indicators, including stabilising inflation and exchange rates, are helping to position Ghana as an increasingly competitive destination for global capital.

Further engagements are expected to focus on converting investor interest into concrete projects, including investor missions to Ghana, sector-specific forums and structured co-investment platforms for the diaspora.

The government hopes such initiatives will help mobilise the partnerships needed to support economic recovery, drive sustainable growth and create jobs.