By Stanley Senya
Accra, July 7, GNA – Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme featured prominently at the Ghana-Canada Investment Forum in Toronto, attracting investors to support industrial transformation and access Africa’s market.
A statement issued in Accra said the forum, held on June 15, 2026, at the Frontenac Ballroom of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto, brought together about 135 government officials, diplomats and business executives from Ghana and Canada to strengthen trade, investment and bilateral partnerships.
It said the event was organised by the GHFA Global Investment Forum Initiative in collaboration with Strategic Communications Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa) and Kwakaf International, an international investment promotion and events company based in Toronto.
Ms Esther A. N. Cobbah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stratcomm Africa, highlighted the longstanding cooperation between Ghana and Canada and urged Canadian investors to view Ghana as an entry point to Africa’s expanding market.
She recalled the historic cooperation between the two countries, including technical support provided by Petro-Canada International Assistance Corporation to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and noted that Canada was well positioned to build enduring partnerships across both Anglophone and Francophone Africa.
Madam Sandra Bowen delivered remarks on behalf of Dr Onyekachi Macaulay O. Kalu, Secretary-General of the African Union Sixth Region Global (AU6RG) and Chairman of the Economic Community of Africa Sixth Region (ECASR). Honorary Consul Manj Singh, Honorary Consul of Guyana to Canada, also addressed participants.
Mr Ras Mubarak, Founder and Leader of the Pan African Initiative Promoting a Visa-Free Africa by 2030, speaking on behalf of Dr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, outlined President John Dramani Mahama’s flagship 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme.
He described the initiative as a national strategy to expand productive hours across manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, energy, tourism and other priority sectors to drive industrial growth and boost exports.
Mr Mubarak said Ghana was open for business like never before and urged Canadian investors to bring capital, expertise and technology to support the programme while taking advantage of Ghana’s access to the African Continental Free Trade Area market of more than 1.5 billion people.
The forum featured a panel discussion with Mr David Harley of The Asili Initiative and ThirdWay Capital, Prof. Nii Odoi Yemoh of Reality Capital Management, Mrs Saneca Grant Asare of Grant Asare Advisory Group, and Canadian AI governance specialist Stacy Ann Berry.
The panellists discussed investment opportunities, supply chain innovation, diaspora investment, tourism, and the role of artificial intelligence in economic transformation.
The discussions underscored that sustainable economic growth would require sound financial management, credible partnerships and improved artificial intelligence literacy among Ghana’s youth to support the implementation of the country’s National AI Strategy.
Universal Merchant Bank and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation were recognised for supporting initiatives that promote national development and Ghana’s strategic opportunities in the global economy.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu