…To champion govt’s ambitious US$10 billion economic agenda
Africa’s richest industrialist and business mogul, Aliko Dangote, is expected in Ghana next week to participate in the Invest Ghana Summit (IGS) 2026, where he will join President John Dramani Mahama at a high-profile international investment forum aimed at attracting private capital to support the government’s ambitious US$10 billion economic transformation agenda.
The two-day summit, scheduled for Monday, 16 November, and Tuesday, 17 November 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, is expected to bring together leading international investors, multinational corporations, financiers, policymakers, industrialists and business executives to explore investment opportunities in Ghana.
Mr Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, one of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates, is expected to be among the major attractions at the event, which seeks to position Ghana as a competitive destination for industrial investment, manufacturing, business expansion and regional trade.
His participation comes as the Mahama administration intensifies efforts to mobilize domestic and international investment to accelerate industrialization, expand exports, create employment and reduce the country’s dependence on imported finished products.
The summit, being convened by the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), will be held under the theme, “Investing in Ghana’s New Economy: Building a Productive Economy that Creates Value and Competes Globally”.
It will provide a platform for prospective investors to explore opportunities in manufacturing, agribusiness, infrastructure, energy, logistics, healthcare, mining, tourism, digital technology and the creative economy.
According to a statement issued in Accra on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the event will also highlight the government’s proposed US$10 billion investment programme covering the period from 2026 to 2030.
The initiative is intended to move Ghana beyond economic stabilization towards production-led growth, with substantial investments in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, mineral processing, tourism and other productive sectors.
The summit will also showcase the recently enacted Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Act, 2026 (Act 1173), which replaces the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013, and seeks to strengthen investment facilitation, improve investor services and create a more competitive business environment.
One of the major highlights will be an exclusive fireside conversation with Mr Dangote, during which the Nigerian billionaire is expected to share his experiences in building one of Africa’s largest industrial business empires.
Discussions will focus on industrialization, regional value chains, investment opportunities and strategies for developing globally competitive African businesses.
Mr Dangote’s business interests span cement manufacturing, fertilizer production, petrochemicals and petroleum refining, including the multibillion-dollar Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria.
His participation is expected to provide valuable insights into how African economies can mobilize private capital, establish large-scale industries, strengthen domestic production and reduce their dependence on imports.
President Mahama will also deliver a keynote address outlining his administration’s economic transformation agenda and vision for investment-led growth, industrialization and export expansion.
The Chief Executive Officer of GIPA, Simon Madjie, described Mr Dangote’s participation as a significant endorsement of Ghana’s investment prospects.
“Mr Dangote’s presence at the Invest Ghana Summit is a powerful endorsement of Ghana’s economic potential and investment outlook,” he said.
“As one of Africa’s most respected industrial leaders, he will enrich discussions on industrialization, regional value chains and private-sector-led growth, while inspiring investors and entrepreneurs seeking to build globally competitive businesses from Africa.”
Beyond the participation of prominent business leaders, the summit will focus on securing financing for investment-ready projects across the country.
Among the major projects to be presented to prospective investors are the Eastern Railway Line Development Project, Accra-Tema Motorway Expansion Project, Volo-Battor Agro-Industrial Park, Volta Lake Transport System and Legon Pharmaceutical Innovation Park.
Others include the Tamale Air Cargo and Logistics Hub and the Buipe Solar and Battery Storage Project.
The Buipe project, estimated at US$1.46 billion, is expected to support inland ports, logistics hubs and agro-industrial parks in the Savannah Region through a dedicated commercial vehicle known as 24H Parks Energy PLC.
The summit will also showcase investment opportunities identified through GIPA’s Investment Opportunities Mapping Project, particularly in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions.
These include cocoa and cashew processing, rice farming, cassava starch production, tomato processing, livestock production and agricultural logistics infrastructure.
Another major initiative expected to attract investor interest is the Green Forestry and Climate Investment Corridor, covering the Western North, Ashanti, Bono East, Eastern, Savannah and Oti Regions.
The initiative seeks to promote commercial forestry, sustainable land management and investment in carbon markets.
Opportunities in tourism infrastructure, including safari lodges, wellness resorts, conference facilities and cultural heritage destinations, will also be presented to prospective investors.
A key feature of the summit will be the establishment of an Investor Facilitation Hub, bringing together 19 public institutions to provide direct assistance to prospective investors.
The hub will offer support in business registration, taxation, permits, immigration services, investment incentives, environmental approvals and other regulatory requirements.
Organizers believe the arrangement will help address bureaucratic obstacles that frequently discourage investors from establishing or expanding businesses in Ghana.
Participants will also have opportunities to engage directly with government officials, regulators, financiers and project promoters through business-to-business and business-to-government meetings.
Dedicated investment deal rooms will facilitate discussions on financing arrangements, commercial partnerships and the implementation of proposed projects.
The summit will further feature sector-specific discussions on agribusiness, food processing, export agriculture, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, digital technology, financial services, energy, mining, infrastructure and tourism.
Particular attention will be given to Ghana’s potential to become a regional manufacturing and export hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
An AfCFTA Investment Breakfast will explore how businesses can take advantage of the continent’s emerging single market, strengthen regional supply chains and expand their operations across African countries.
Ghana’s position as host of the AfCFTA Secretariat is expected to feature prominently in discussions about the country’s strategic importance to continental trade and investment.
The summit is being organised with support from the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Bank of Ghana, Ghana Free Zones Authority, National AfCFTA Coordination Office and the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance are also partnering in organising the event.
The involvement of these institutions is intended to ensure that investment discussions are supported by the relevant government agencies responsible for policy implementation, regulatory approvals and business facilitation.
Mr Madjie said the summit was designed to move beyond investment promotion towards securing practical commitments capable of delivering measurable economic benefits.
He explained that the gathering would create opportunities for business expansion, job creation, technology transfer, industrial development and increased exports.
“By connecting investors directly with bankable projects and decision-makers, we are creating a platform that turns investor interest into tangible economic outcomes for Ghana,” he stated.
The GIPA Chief Executive expressed optimism that the participation of international industrialists, financiers and multinational corporations would strengthen Ghana’s investment profile and attract fresh capital into productive sectors.
The Invest Ghana Summit is the country’s flagship President-led investment promotion platform, bringing together policymakers, business executives, development partners, entrepreneurs and investors to explore commercial opportunities and establish strategic partnerships.
For the Mahama administration, the gathering represents an opportunity to present its economic priorities directly to the international business community and seek investment commitments towards its US$10 billion transformation programme.
The government is seeking to channel investment into sectors capable of generating employment, expanding domestic production, strengthening exports and improving Ghana’s competitiveness within the African and global economies.
Mr Dangote’s expected presence is particularly significant given his experience in developing major industrial projects across Africa, including ventures that have transformed manufacturing and petroleum-refining capacity.
His engagement with President Mahama and other participants is expected to reinforce discussions on the role of African private capital in financing industrial development and building sustainable businesses.
Ultimately, the success of the summit will be measured not merely by the calibre of personalities attending or the investment opportunities presented, but by the extent to which discussions translate into concrete financial commitments, operational projects and jobs for Ghanaians.
With the summit scheduled to begin in just over a week, attention will turn to the government’s ability to convert investor interest into the substantial capital inflows required to deliver its ambitious economic transformation agenda.
