By Iddi Yire, GNA Special Correspondent in London
London, June 01, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Monday opened the Ghana-UK Investment Summit 2026 in London with an appeal to businesses and investors in the United Kingdom to invest in Ghana.
“To the international investors gathered here today, let me say this clearly, Ghana is open for business. We’re open to partnerships that create jobs, transfer technology, develop skills, support industrialization, expand exports, and deliver sustainable growth.” President Mahama said.
“We seek investors who are prepared to build long-term partnerships with us, partnerships that are grounded in mutual respect, transparency and shared prosperity. My government stands ready to work with you.”
The two-day Ghana-UK Investment Summit, which is being organized by the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Invest Africa and the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, brought together a distinguished gathering of business leaders, institutional investors, policy makers and development partners.
President Mahama said the Summit comes at a defining moment for Ghana and indeed for Africa; stating that around the world businesses and investors are reassessing supply chains, searching for resilient growth markets, diversifying investment destinations and positioning themselves for the next era of global economic transformation.
He said in that changing global landscape Ghana offers something increasingly valuable, political stability, democratic maturity, strategic geographical access, improving macroeconomic fundamentals and a government committed to creating a transparent and invest-out friendly business environment.
President Mahama said Ghana and the United Kingdom share a long and evolving relationship rooted not only in their history but increasingly in trade innovation, investment, education and shared democratic values.
“Today bilateral trade between our two countries exceeds 1.5 billion pounds annually, but I believe this only scratches the surface of what is possible,” he stated.
“The future of the Ghana-UK partnership must move beyond traditional trade into deeper strategic collaboration in manufacturing, in technology, infrastructure, agribusiness, renewable energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, tourism, education and the digital economy.”
The President said the Summit was therefore not simply a networking event, declaring that it was a platform for building long-term partnerships capable of delivering jobs, innovation, industrial growth and shared prosperity.
President Mahama noted that he was pleased that several of his ministers and senior government officials were present at this summit.
He therefore encouraged all potential investors to engage directly with them during this business summit, during the sessions and networking engagements.
“This is a time for us to move from conversations to commitments.
This is a time to invest in Ghana,” the President said.
“Together, let us build a partnership that not only delivers returns for investors, but also creates opportunities for millions of people across Ghana, the United Kingdom and Africa”.
Mrs Shaba Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, said the Summit was being held to deepen commercial ties and create lasting values for their two countries.
Dr Christian Rogg, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, announced that the UK-backed private infrastructure development group, PIDG, was making its largest investment to date, a £101 million ship repair and dry-docking facility at Takoradi Port in Ghana.
This, the High Commissioner said would create up to 430 jobs, 30 per cent of which for women, and it would strengthen Ghana’s role.
He further pledged the UK Government’s full support for Ghana’s socioeconomic development.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade