Council of State Member makes investment pitch for Ghana at Chicago Business Forum

A Member of Ghana’s Council of State, Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, has made a strong case for increased foreign direct investment in Ghana, urging American investors and members of the African Diaspora to seize emerging opportunities in the country, particularly in the Volta Region, which he described as one of Ghana’s most promising investment frontiers.

Addressing the 5th Annual Business Exchange Forum – Invest in Ghana Dialogue in Chicago, Kwamigah-Atokple said Ghana was offering investors more than promises, describing the country as a stable democracy with a resilient economy, strategic location, and access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), making it an ideal gateway to the continent’s 1.4 billion consumers.

The forum brought together policymakers, investors, business executives and members of the African Diaspora, with speakers including Simon Madjie, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Illinois State Representative Sonya Harper, and other business leaders.

“Ghana is not asking the world for charity; Ghana is inviting the world to do business.

“When investors ask, ‘Where can I invest with confidence and expect sustainable returns?’ my answer remains unequivocal: Ghana,” Kwamigah-Atokple declared.

He said Ghana’s credentials as one of Africa’s largest economies, the continent’s leading gold producer and a global leader in cocoa production position it as a competitive investment destination.

“Hosting the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area gives investors access to a market of more than 1.4 billion people,” he said, adding that opportunities extend well beyond the country’s traditional sectors into value addition, industrialisation, agribusiness, logistics, manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy, technology and financial services.

Kwamigah-Atokple acknowledged that Ghana had experienced significant macroeconomic and fiscal challenges in recent years but maintained that the country’s economy was undergoing a steady recovery.

He noted that exchange rate volatility, previously a major concern for investors, had stabilised considerably over the past one and a half years, attributing the renewed confidence partly to the economic policies of President John Dramani Mahama.

“The story today is one of recovery, renewed confidence and forward momentum,” he said.

According to him, Ghana’s democratic credentials, adherence to the rule of law and growing private sector continue to make it one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for long-term investment.

Kwamigah-Atokple emphasised the critical role local entrepreneurs are playing in Ghana’s economic transformation, citing investments in manufacturing, agriculture and technology as evidence of the country’s entrepreneurial resilience.

He encouraged foreign investors to pursue partnerships with indigenous businesses, arguing that local enterprises possess deep knowledge of Ghanaian markets and communities.

“When empowered with capital, technology and genuine partnerships, these businesses become engines of national development and reliable partners for international investors,” he added.

He also challenged members of the African Diaspora to move beyond cultural and historical connections with Ghana by investing in joint ventures, venture capital, technology transfer and cross-border trade.

“The relationship between Ghana and its global family should extend beyond history and heritage into enterprise and shared prosperity,” he stated.

Drawing particular attention to the Volta Region, which he represents on the Council of State, Kwamigah-Atokple described the region as one of Ghana’s best-kept investment secrets.

He highlighted its fertile agricultural land, abundant water resources, tourism attractions and peaceful communities as major advantages for investors interested in commercial agriculture, agro-processing, fisheries, hospitality, renewable energy and manufacturing.

He also pointed to government’s plans to develop a modern port and harbour facility in the region, describing the project as a game changer that would improve logistics, facilitate trade and position the Volta Region as a strategic gateway for commerce across Ghana and West Africa.

“I therefore extend a special invitation to investors gathered here today: come to the Volta Region, partner with our people, and be part of unlocking the enormous potential of one of Ghana’s most promising regions,” he appealed.

Kwamigah-Atokple urged investors to act before Ghana’s emerging opportunities become saturated, arguing that early movers stand to gain the greatest returns.

“Fortunes are rarely made by following the crowd. They are made by recognising opportunity before everyone else does,” he said.

He stressed that the rewards of investing in Ghana should not be measured solely in financial returns but also in the jobs created, technologies transferred, businesses expanded and communities transformed.

Concluding his address, he reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to deepen economic cooperation with the United States and the African Diaspora.

“Ghana is open for business. Ghana is ready for public-private partnerships. The Volta Region is ready for investment,” he said.

Kwamigah-Atokple also expressed appreciation to The Progressive Minds Show and the organisers of the Business Exchange Forum for creating a platform to strengthen economic and investment ties between Ghana and the United States.