Ghanaian business leader urges US to prioritize investment in Ghana and democratic Africa

Augustine Kanton, General Manager of Eklips Investment Ghana Ltd, has issued a strong appeal to the United States government and private sector to redirect their business and investment interests toward Ghana and other democratic African countries.

He described Ghana as a model of democratic governance on the continent and stressed the urgent need for tangible economic partnerships that reflect shared values between democratic nations.

“For years, Ghana has been celebrated as a beacon of democracy in Africa—a country that continues to lead by example in terms of governance, electoral transparency, and peaceful transitions of power,” Kanton said in a statement from Accra.

“However, it is increasingly disheartening to see that these democratic achievements have not translated into commensurate foreign direct investment, particularly from our traditional allies like the United States.”

Kanton questioned the prevailing narrative in certain Western business circles that treats African partnerships more as charity efforts than legitimate business opportunities.

According to him, this perception fails to recognize the real economic potential and investment-ready sectors in countries like Ghana.

“Many American business leaders we speak with still approach Africa, especially Ghana, as if they are doing us a favor by engaging,” he noted.

“Meanwhile, they are comfortable investing billions of dollars in regions where human rights are severely curtailed, press freedom is nonexistent, and democracy is either repressed or entirely absent.”

He pointed to the stark differences in U.S. foreign direct investment between democratic African countries and authoritarian states in other parts of the world. U.S. investment in autocratic Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE remains significantly higher than in Ghana or Kenya, despite the latter offering transparent legal systems, open markets, and vibrant civil societies.

According to recent global trade reports, U.S. FDI stock in Saudi Arabia surpassed $10 billion in 2023, while democratic Ghana attracted less than $2 billion in the same period.

As the head of Eklips Investment Ghana Ltd, an emerging trade facilitation company focused on bridging global capital with African opportunity, Kanton emphasized that the time is ripe for the U.S. to rethink its approach.

He noted that Ghana offers significant prospects in technology, agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, and green energy. With a youthful population, improving infrastructure, and an expanding middle class, Ghana stands poised for long-term growth.

Kanton urged American investors to begin viewing Africa through the lens of partnership, innovation, and growth rather than risk and aid dependency.

“If democracy cannot yield real, visible benefits for the people who uphold it, what message are we sending to other countries watching us?” he asked.

“We cannot promote democracy globally while ignoring its economic needs at the local level. Supporting democracy means investing in it.”

Kanton stressed that U.S. businesses and government agencies that have long promoted democracy abroad must now match their rhetoric with resources.

He called for deeper collaboration in trade, technology transfer, and capacity building, adding that Ghana is not only open for business but is also one of the most secure and politically stable environments for American investors in the region.

“Ghana has always stood on the right side of history as a dependable ally of the United States,” he said.

“Now we are calling on our partners to stand with us not just politically, but economically. The future of U.S. Africa relations must be built on shared prosperity, and that begins with bold investments in democratic countries like Ghana.”

Kanton concluded by affirming that African businesses are ready and eager for strategic partnerships not handouts.

He urged the U.S. to help shift the narrative and lead a new era of mutually beneficial trade and investment that rewards democracy and unleashes Africa’s economic potential.

As part of his concluding remarks, Kanton revealed that Eklips Investment Ghana Limited is working with business partners in the U.S. state of Virginia to organize the first “Ghana–Virginia Business Summit” in early 2026.

He also announced that the company, in partnership with Liberty University, will facilitate the participation of about 50 African CEOs most of them from Ghana at the upcoming CEOs Summit in Lynchburg, Virginia, scheduled for October 15–17, 2026.