On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama called on American businesses to partner with Ghana in building a value-added, export-driven economy. He was delivered the keynote address at the U.S.-Ghana Presidential Roundtable, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, and the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority at the Nasdaq MarketSite during UNGA 81.
The President noted that Ghana has long produced cocoa, gold, minerals and other commodities, but too much of that value has left the country unprocessed. Using cocoa as an example, he said Ghana is one of the world’s leading producers yet has historically exported raw beans. He pointed to significant opportunities in processing into chocolate, cocoa butter and other food products. That processing, he said, would create markets for farmers, work for processors and suppliers, and jobs across the value chain.
The priority sectors he highlighted at last year’s engagement remain open: agriculture and agribusiness, energy, mining, health and technology. The sharper focus now, he said, is on adding value within them.
President Mahama outlined incentives for qualifying businesses, including duty-free import of plant and equipment and faster clearance procedures at the ports. He said production growth would open further opportunities in transport, logistics, warehousing, cold-chain facilities and digital services. He also stressed that reliable energy is essential for manufacturers to scale up operations.
Technology was identified as another major frontier. The President cited opportunities in digital infrastructure, data centres, artificial intelligence and financial technology.
The President reminded investors that Ghana’s domestic market is only part of the opportunity. Ghana hosts the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which brings together a continental market of more than 1.4 billion people. As a result, companies that produce in Ghana can serve West Africa and the wider continent.
He added that Ghana is preparing to assume the chairmanship of the African Union. Ghana intends to use that role to champion infrastructure, industrialisation and regional integration, all areas where American businesses have strong expertise.
President Mahama noted that trade between the two countries in goods and services has reached approximately $4.6 billion. He also noted that Ghana has benefited from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for more than two decades. The next chapter of the relationship, he said, must put greater emphasis on trade, investment and technology. He cited Ghana’s political stability and strategic location in West Africa as key advantages for American companies.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) followed the keynote with a video presentation on Ghana’s investment landscape. The video invited investors to form partnerships grounded in mutual respect and shared prosperity. It framed this moment as the time to move from conversations to commitments.
The roundtable followed by the Nasdaq Closing Bell ceremony and bilateral meetings between the President and senior executives of the US Chamber and AmCham Ghana
