Keypoints:
- Mahama pushes Ghana as AfCFTA entry point
- Launches 24-hour economy and reform agenda
- Calls for Africa–Asia investment partnerships
PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahama has declared Ghana the most reliable entry point into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging Asian investors to seize opportunities in Africa’s fast-growing markets. Speaking at the opening of the 8th Africa–Singapore Business Forum on Tuesday, Mahama positioned Ghana as both a continental hub and a reform-minded economy ready for capital.
‘We are here to learn, to partner, and to deliver,’ Mahama told the gathering of Singaporean ministers, trade officials and business leaders. ‘Africa is investable, and Ghana is your reliable gateway to the continent.’
Africa and Asia as natural partners
Mahama cast Africa and Asia as the ‘two youngest, fastest-urbanising regions’ with complementary strengths in markets, resources and technology. He said both should be ‘champions of open markets, trusted rules and practical partnerships that deliver jobs, technology transfer and shared prosperity.’
He warned that multilateralism was under strain as tariffs proliferate and supply chains remain fragile. In this climate, he argued, South–South partnerships are vital to drive growth and resilience.
Rising trade and compelling fundamentals
The president highlighted Africa’s strong fundamentals: a youthful, digitally connected population of 1.4 billion, a $3.4 trillion single market under AfCFTA, and leadership in mobile money and fintech adoption.
Trade between Africa and Singapore grew nearly 50 percent from 2020 to 2024 to reach close to $14bn, with West Africa accounting for more than half. Ghana–Singapore trade surpassed $215 million in 2024, while 69 Singaporean firms are already registered in Ghana with investments exceeding $2bn.
‘Ghana is, therefore, a trusted entry point to scale across the continent,’ Mahama said, citing Accra’s hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat and Ghana’s access to more than 400 million consumers via ECOWAS.
24-hour economy vision
Mahama showcased his domestic reforms, including a strategy to align infrastructure, skills and incentives for a 24-hour economy. ‘Ghana is OPEN FOR BUSINESS 24 hours a day,’ he said.
He outlined four integrated pillars:
- Grow24: irrigating more than 2 million hectares for year-round farming.
- Make24: agro-industrial parks for textiles, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
- Show24: tourism projects around Lake Volta.
- Connect24: transforming Lake Volta into a transport corridor to lower logistics costs.
He added that inflation is easing, the cedi has stabilised, and Ghana’s ratings outlook is improving. The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre now offers data-driven, region-specific investment maps to guide decision-making.
Singapore’s role as partner
Mahama described Singapore as a catalytic partner for Africa, citing its expertise in blended finance, project preparation and dispute resolution. He urged investors to explore opportunities in agribusiness, logistics, manufacturing, energy, digital innovation and tourism.
The president also pressed for reforms to the global financial system while stressing Africa’s own integration efforts. As African Union Champion on Financial Institutions, he noted the continent faces an annual financing gap of $1.3tn, including infrastructure needs of up to $221bn per year through 2030 and a climate-finance shortfall of about $213bn annually.
Ghana’s investment case
Concluding his pitch, Mahama described Ghana as ‘a stable, reform-minded nation, connected to the AfCFTA, designed for scale,’ offering ‘a pipeline of investable projects’ and a government that values ‘integrity, predictability and long-term relationships.’
