Mahama pitches Africa’s $1.3bn market to global investors at Dubai summit
President John Mahama utilised the World Governments Summit in Dubai as a platform to promote Ghana and Africa as prime investment destinations, drawing attention to the continent’s 1.3-billion market and advocating for enhanced trade, industrialisation, and global economic partnerships.
As global leaders convene at the World Governments Summit 2026, President John Dramani Mahama has positioned Africa at the forefront of future economic opportunity, underscoring the continent’s rapidly growing market and strategic investment potential as key drivers of 21st-century prosperity.
Addressing the high-level forum under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’, Mahama urged governments, investors, and development partners to adopt a more nuanced approach, moving beyond traditional narratives of aid and dependency towards mutually beneficial economic partnerships that leverage Africa’s expanding consumer base and youthful labour force.
“Africa is not merely a space of competition; it is a continent of solutions, opportunities, and rising influence,” Mahama said, stressing that the continent’s 1.3 billion market will be decisive in shaping the global economy.
Mahama’s remarks reflect a broader shift in global economic engagement with Africa, where governments are increasingly emphasising value-added production, industrialisation and innovation rather than simply exporting raw materials.
Mahama underscored Ghana’s efforts to attract investment and expand industrial capacity, consistent with his Accra Reset Agenda.
This initiative aims to transform Ghana’s economy through innovation, industrialization, and stronger global partnerships.
Recent domestic policy goals include expanding manufacturing, enhancing export-oriented industries, and positioning Ghana as a commercial and technological hub for West Africa.
These priorities are likely to resonate with investors attending the summit. The summit’s economic focus also resonates with broader calls for deeper private sector involvement and youth empowerment across Africa.
Africa’s demographic dividend, characterized by a rapidly expanding workforce and rising digital adoption, presents opportunities for investment in sectors like fintech, agribusiness, and renewable energy.
The summit’s global dialogues have frequently stressed the need for innovative finance, public-private partnerships, and sustainable investment frameworks to accelerate economic transformation.
For Ghana, this could result in the expansion of business networks, technology transfer opportunities, and access to new markets, all of which are essential for long-term economic resilience.
By participating in the summit, Mahama positions Ghana at the center of international economic discourse, signaling the country’s willingness to engage with investors on global platforms and advocate for conditions that favor equitable growth.
