Ghana heightens investment drive at 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ghana is hosting a series of exhibitions and business fora to take advantage of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, to draw investment from Canada and the United States of America into the country.
The initiative is aligned with Ghana’s medium-term development priorities of industrialisation, infrastructure expansion, value addition, and job creation, with a deliberate focus after-tournament outcome.
The activities would be spearheaded by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), and the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Ghana Exim Bank).
The engagements, scheduled for Montreal, Toronto, and Philadelphia, would translate the heightened international visibility of the World Cup into structured business dialogue, strategic partnerships, and a credible pipeline of foreign direct investment into key sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
Targeted national priorities and investment opportunities to be showcased at the events include the Big Push Agenda infrastructure programme, the 24-Hour Economy, and the Volta Economic Corridor Project.
Energy, agribusiness, manufacturing, mining and minerals value addition, the digital economy, healthcare, tourism, and real estate are the high-potential sectors that the government seeks investment, promising high returns.
GEPA would also open its first Ghana Trade House in Philadelphia to boost Ghana’s export growth ambitions, expand investor visibility into priority sectors, and strengthen the country’s position as a competitive gateway to West Africa.
Key officers to participate in the engagements are Mr Simon Madjie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIPC, Mr Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, CEO, GEPA, Dr Mary Awusi, CEO, GFZA, and Mr Sylvester Adinam Mensah, Ghana Exim Bank.
Mr Sampson Ahi, Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry (MOTAI), as well as representatives of Ghana’s High Commissions in Canada, Ghana’s Embassy in the United States, trade associations, businesses, and investors would also be at the events.
Mr Madjie said the initiatives were expected to enhance Ghana’s international investment profile, deepen investor interest in bankable projects, increase diaspora participation, and support sustained post-World Cup investment promotion through stronger institutional follow-up.
He called on diaspora Ghanaians, business leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and strategic partners to actively participate in the forums.
That, he said, would be a way to demonstrate patriotism and contribute to a national effort to showcase Ghana’s opportunities, support enterprise growth, and strengthen the country’s position in the global investment landscape.
Mr Arthur of GEPA explained that the opening of the Ghana Trade House was intended to deepen Ghana’s trade presence in the United States market and to create new pathways for promoting Made-in-Ghana goods and services.
“This is more than the opening of a physical trade space; it is the creation of new opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to compete, connect, and grow in one of the world’s most dynamic markets,” he said.
Dr Mary Awusi, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, noted that the World Cup presented Ghana with a rare platform to connect global attention with real investment opportunities, an opportunity the country would grab.
“Through the Invest Ghana Business Forums, we are showcasing the strength of Ghana’s free zones programme and the country’s readiness to support export-oriented industries, industrial transformation, and long-term investor partnerships,” she added.
Mr Mensah, the CEO of Ghana Exim Bank, said the engagements would help unlock new opportunities for Ghanaian businesses, strengthen investor confidence, and support the growth of value-added exports.
Beyond the tournament, the engagements are expected to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s investment drive by converting global interest into concrete deals, while strengthen Ghana-Canada-USA business ties.
It would also serve as an avenue to deepening diaspora and investor engagement and strengthening the country’s reputation as a preferred destination for business, trade, and long-term capital.
Source: GNA