The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, participated in the Global Africa Summit (GAS) Charlotte 2026, convened by the Africa Investment Network (AIN) from September 8–10 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The three-day gathering brought together business leaders, investors, government officials, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and diaspora leaders around the theme, “Beyond Partnerships: Trade, Investment & Private Capital as Tools of Global Resilience.”

The summit began on September 8 with participants taking part in tours of the Pearl Innovation Centre and a market briefing, followed by the official Welcome Reception that evening. The reception brought together Summit delegates, partners, government representatives, and business leaders and helped set the stage for two days of substantive discussions on strengthening trade and investment between Africa, the United States, and the global diaspora.

On September 9, the Summit’s formal programme began with the inaugural executive breakfast roundtable launching AIN’s Industrial Africa 2035 Institutional Framework, a private-sector-led framework designed to mobilise global private-sector engagement in Africa’s industrial transformation. Chaired by Jane Reindorf-Osei, Founder and President/CEO of the Africa Investment Network, the invitation-only roundtable convened approximately 50 private- and public-sector leaders for a focused discussion on the role of private capital, trade, industrialisation, cities, institutions, and cross-border partnerships in advancing Africa’s economic transformation.

Participants included HRM Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV; Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington; Charlotte City Council Member Malcolm Graham; former U.S. Congresswoman Eva Clayton; Senator Caleb Theodros; Chief Kenny Flowers; British A. Robinson, Chair, Africa at Milken Institute International; Dr. Rachel Laryea, Founder of Black Capitalism LLC and author of Black Capitalist; and Bishop Claude Alexander, alongside other senior business, government, investment, and institutional leaders.

Following the breakfast roundtable, the main Summit programme opened with remarks from Jane Reindorf-Osei, followed by Mayor Rob Harrington, HRM Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, and Bishop Claude Alexander. The opening programme culminated with a keynote address from British A. Robinson, setting the tone for the conversations that followed. AmCham Ghana was represented by the Manager for Membership, External Relations, and Special Projects, Jane Okyere-Aduachie, who was among the featured speakers opening Day Two of the main conference programme. She welcomed participants on behalf of AmCham Ghana, shared greetings from the Chamber, benefits of joining the Chamber, highlighted AmCham’s role and services in supporting businesses, facilitating trade, services, connections, and strengthening commercial engagement between Ghana and the United States.

The Summit also received support from the Office of North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. Walter Bowers Jr. participated in the Welcome Reception and delivered a letter from the Governor expressing support for the Summit and AIN’s work to strengthen trade and investment ties between North Carolina and Africa.

Across the Summit, discussions moved beyond traditional dialogue to practical opportunities in trade, private capital, agriculture and food systems, critical minerals, infrastructure, technology, financial markets, real estate, and diaspora investment. Curated Deal Rooms, executive discussions, market engagement, and business-to-business connections provided additional opportunities to move conversations towards tangible partnerships and investment opportunities.

For AmCham Ghana, participation in GAS Charlotte provided an important opportunity to further advance commercial connections between Ghana and the United States and position Ghanaian businesses within a broader network of investors, companies, institutions, and economic development partners exploring opportunities across Africa. We thank the Africa Investment Network and its partners for convening this important platform for advancing U.S.–Africa economic engagement and look forward to building on the relationships and opportunities that emerged from Charlotte.