Ghana CEO Summit || 28th May 2026

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:02:47]Statesman 2017.

[00:07:39]Please.

[00:08:42]We've come this far.

[00:11:49]This is another place.

[00:19:36]Many thanks to Daniel.

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[00:23:03]That's why Excellency President Honorable Ministeres from the financial sector.

[00:24:04]I'm happy platform that has consistently continue to shape leadership around national We do standource.

[00:25:13]The question is whe industrial competitiveness.

[00:25:38]Transformation requires far more demands and decisive leadership policy technological innovation institution.

[00:26:23]I've done businesses.

[00:26:37]Ladies and gentlemen, characterized by Monday.

[00:27:42]over the past years.

[00:28:04]These developments expose We have responded. Our policies accelerate conditions.

[00:29:48]What do you guys do?

[00:30:03]Our responsibility.

[00:32:04]So this This is why First strengthening.

[00:33:23]Let me also ladies and gentlemen.

[00:34:07]You must not only change Thank you.

[00:34:59]Please stop.

[00:35:47]So far This is also everything.

[00:37:20]So as I think Slow down.

[00:39:58]What did you say?

[00:40:26]So simply That's You think it's Excellency.

[01:03:18]What is that?

[01:04:13]The fastest coming.

[01:08:52]Thank you.

[01:09:03]Ladies and gentlemen, it's officials.

[01:09:06]Put your hands together.

[01:09:27]change like any other day begins with hope for the next Not just foresigns.

[01:10:16]possibility communities, transforming futures and shaping a world where hope connects resilience.

[01:10:58]President And that's how we move from action raising African leadership resilience and industry.

[01:30:17]in Ghana and Africa.

[01:38:34]Africans.

[01:39:01]I wish consistently showing up.

[01:39:14]Not just in words, but always ladies and gentlemen. Minister for trade agree to action.

[01:39:56]What I really understand how we can build world And so for minutes, please welcome the chief executive group.

[01:40:56]members of industry ins policy makers from the media ladies.

[01:41:07]Good afternoon, but today I suggest we must further the next Ghana can build worldass manufacturing and industrial businesses.

[01:41:32]local and leadership for global competitiveness of But we believe more than we believe the materials of development today into a Ghana based industrial company serving Ghana and proud to be expertified.

[01:42:25]We follow and we continue to invest in quality technology and industrial capacity. We have learned that world class manufacturing is not built by alone. It is built by standard discipline machines logistics finance leadership and trust.

[01:42:48]Let me share five.

[01:42:56]Manufacturing not only about producing goods manufacturing creates ecosystems locally.

[01:43:10]We are honored and a few weeks ago 24 that moment was not only important for our company was a signal that Ghana can move from importance to production.

[01:43:30]that private industry has a responsibility to support national invement project manufacturers where they meet the required standard local supply chain jobs.

[01:44:10]Third, we must shift from a economy to a 24-hour economy is committed to your 24hour economy. We understand working hours but as of Ghana productive assets mach when exports are ready and regulators must work together so that every economy must be seen in factories warehouses and plants the 24hour economy about agriculture is full of opportunity but opportunity alone is not enough to support the food.

[01:45:15]We contribute through structure systems facilities facilities facilities logistic equipment and industrial. We want to help build industrial infrastructure so that farmers and communities more clear without factory without local shift from a industry to circular and sustainable industry in the In the old economy was in the new economy and industry can become productive by product.

[01:46:30]only kinder matters.

[01:46:50]When we open our first plant, we train 125 months. Many Our director and they carried that skill into the country but industry also requir for industrial equipment for manufacturing and second local construction priority where they in Ghana Ghana are not about industrial logistics and utilities must infrastructure.

[01:48:29]When condition together.

[01:48:57]Local investment can do. We must show what we are ready to build. We must move from shortterm to longac leadership invest build that produces more.

[01:50:19]Let us build every arteet.

[01:50:38]Thank you very much. God bless you, your businesses and God bless Ghana. I want to say a very special thank you to his excellency and our uh sector minister without you. Thank you very much for all your support and the promise from B5 plus. Let us create a synergy among our all captains of industries here how we can do the business.

[01:51:01]Thank you very much.

[01:51:06]And ladies and gentlemen, although he made this great speech on building worldass manufacturing and industrial business in Ghana, I believe the best is the president of the republic for enabling this. Please a round of applause.

[01:51:19]Thank you very much.

[01:51:22]And nowadents Thank you.

[01:51:42]The first Your excellency I bless you.

[01:52:44]dedicated establish.

[01:53:11]Thank you.

[01:53:18]We are just starting.

[01:53:45]What about Thank you so much.

[01:55:12]Mr. Edward Mr. Edward Mr. Can you give it to them?

[01:55:48]Thank you.

[02:14:29]Please, let's complement that big push with a big push for economic transformation through a genuine government and private sector partnership to transform Ghana, create jobs, expand opportunity, deliver prosperity for and build the Ghana we all want. Thank you very much.

[02:14:59]A full circle moment for our first keynote speaker, guest of honor, Mr. Edward EA. And now talk with the chair.

[02:15:07]Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, speaking to us on the 10th edition of the Ghana CU Summit, the gift of the occasion, the president of our republic, his excellency John Romani Mahama.

[02:15:41]Thank you very much. Kindly resume your seats. Uh for one of time, let me acknowledge our chairman Tua Ped the 14th and to say distinguished ladies and gentlemen, captains of industry. Uh let me thank you for your kind invitation. Uh first I'll get this business out of the way.

[02:16:02]I'll be giving a copy of the comp compact and um I'll call the minister of trade uh agri business and industry to come and receive it. um is going to go to the attorney general's department to review and then after that there will be an engagement with the CEO network to finalize it.

[02:16:50]Uh thank you very much. Uh let me thank the Ghana CEU network for yet another invitation to this summit and expo which marks the 10th anniversary of this network. Over the years, I have participated in the summit in different capacities.

[02:17:16]As president and as leader of the opposition, I continue to attend because Ghana's economic transformation requires engagement between policy makers, business leaders, investors, innovators, development partners and not government alone. And that is why I see the Ghana CEO summit as a strategic national platform. And here ideas are shaped, policy direction, influenced and confidence between government and the private sector is built. And so let me commend NS degraph aure my friend for sustaining this initiative over for sustaining this initiative over the past decade. 10 years of convening business leaders policy makers investors and development partners to address national transformation is no small achievement.

[02:18:14]Thank you very much NS.

[02:18:17]It reflects consistency, vision, resilience, and a clear understanding that progress is strongest when government and enterprise work together.

[02:18:28]The theme for this year's summit is asserating Ghana's economic transformation, driving bold reforms through leadership, technology, and industrialization for sustainable growth. This theme is timely and deeply relevant. It speaks directly to the task before us as a nation. We spent considerable time discussing economic recovery, stability, and national reset.

[02:18:58]These are necessary foundations, but they are not enough on their own. We've only recently completed the extended credit facility program with the IMF.

[02:19:09]We've agreed to enter uh the PCI uh for technical assistance with the fund. This decision was taken in order to maintain policy credibility and fiscal discipline over the next 36 months thereby supporting economic stability and sustainable development.

[02:19:30]Captains of industry and business can therefore rest assured that the current stability we enjoy is not a fluke. It will be sustained into the future.

[02:19:46]It will be sustained into the future.

[02:19:48]And uh we've taxied long enough. It is time to take off.

[02:19:54]But stability must underpin production.

[02:19:57]Production must create jobs. Jobs must raise incomes. And higher incomes must restore confidence and dignity amongst our people. Economic transformation must be defined by how it improves the daily lives of Ghanaians, not just by statistics. A farmer must be able to produce with confidence that he has a reliable market and will get a fair return for his production. A factory owner must have access to raw materials, energy, finance, and equipment without avoidable uncertainty.

[02:20:30]Traders require a predictable business environment. Young Ghanaians with skill, energy, and ambition need real opportunities to work, innovate, and build a future. Chief executives who commit capital to Ghana must be confident that the policy environment will remain clear, stable, transparent, and supportive of long-term investment.

[02:20:54]Real economic transformation is judged by its positive impact on people's lives.

[02:21:00]A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to host a delegation from the chief executives network at the presidency and I appreciated the frankness and seriousness of that engagement because it reflected the Ghanaian business community's commitment to our country's future.

[02:21:17]The business leaders I met spoke not from theory but from experience from factories from farms from boardrooms export desks logistic centers and the everyday reality of doing business in Ghana. They were not asking government for favors. Rather they were asking for a more coherent environment in which an enterprise can plan, invest, produce and grow.

[02:21:43]I left that engagement with a stronger conviction. N Ghana's private sector is ready to contribute even more meaningfully to national transformation if government and business can build a positive, structured and responsive partnership.

[02:21:58]And so, distinguished guests, the first responsibility of that partnership is reform.

[02:22:05]No country can accelerate transformation when businesses are slowed down by unclear procedures, overlapping mandates, and avoidable delays.

[02:22:16]A business person should not waste protective time shuttling between public offices to obtain routine approvals.

[02:22:24]A serious investor should not receive conflicting signals from agencies of the same state.

[02:22:32]A young entrepreneur should not abandon a promising idea simply because formalizing a business has become too cumbersome.

[02:22:40]Business regulatory reform is central to driving productivity and must be prioritized as a national goal. Clear procedures, reduce duplication, transparent rules, and faster service delivery all influence a business's decision to expand operations to hire more staff and compete more effectively in the export space.

[02:23:05]And so our work on the special economic zones follows the same logic. Industrial zones cannot become isolated enclaves disconnected from the wider economy.

[02:23:15]Properly designed, they must connect Ghanaian suppliers to larger industries, facilitate technology transfer, strengthen our exports, attract investment, and create decent jobs. And so reform properly understood is about making the state work better for citizens and businesses alike. It is about reducing the cost of doing business, strengthening confidence and making Ghana a more competitive environment for production, processing, trading and exporting.

[02:23:47]Ladies and gentlemen, once the path is clearer, we produce and what we process. Farmers often struggle to find reliable buyers while factories on the other hand struggle to secure raw materials in the right quantity and the right quality.

[02:24:04]And so when this happens, farmers lose income, factories operate below capacity, workers lose opportunity, and the country loses value. And so closing this gap is central to the Ministry of Trade, agrous and industries work.

[02:24:22]Strengthening agrous value chains is not just an agricultural move, but an industrial strategy. is about connecting the farmer, the transporter, the processor, the packager, the exporter and the retailer into a single productive ecosystem.

[02:24:39]When this chain functions effectively, sectors such as cocoa, cashew, share, oil, palm, rice, poultry, textiles, pharmaceuticals and light manufacturing move beyond just policy aspirations.

[02:24:52]They become sources of jobs, incomes, exports, and stronger stronger local economies. And so we must move beyond just exporting raw materials and pay higher prices for finished imports. We have the people, we have the enterprise, and we certainly have the opportunity to retain more value within our economy.

[02:25:14]Distinguished CEOs, this is also where the 24-hour economy initiative is particularly relevant. The concept is not simply about asking people to work at night. It is about utilizing our productive capacities more efficiently.

[02:25:30]Where a business has demand raw materials, labor, energy, and market opportunities, outdated systems for organizing work should not prevent it from producing more. For some firms, this may mean additional shifts. For others, it may require improved logistics. for others extended public service, stronger security, improve transport systems or digital support infrastructure.

[02:25:58]And so our clear objective is to help businesses grow, create quality jobs and maximize our resources. And so the government will continue to provide policy direction, but CEOs and industry leaders will determine the success of this agenda. It will require investment in machinery, plant and equipment, technology management systems, workforce skills, and decent working conditions.

[02:26:25]When businesses thrive, government thrives, and the country prospers.

[02:26:30]Following the passage of the 24-hour economy authority, the team has presented a cabinet with a comprehensive plan for Ghana's economic transformation over the next 10 years. The plan includes making power cheaper for industry and business, improving the logistics value chain, delineating industrial and agrop processing packs, and providing exemptions and incentives for industry to prosper.

[02:26:57]Ladies and gentlemen, technology must also support this transformation in practical inclusive ways. And so a trader who can receive payments securely, a small producer who can reach customers beyond their immediate area, a farmer who can access market information in real time, and a manufacturer who can improve inventory and quality management are essential.

[02:27:21]These are all practical ways technology can be helpful. And so Ghana's work on e-commerce and digital trade is therefore highly significant. With support from ANTA, Ghana has developed a national e-commerce strategy and work is underway on a comprehensive e-commerce policy. These initiatives are intended to open markets formemes, women led businesses, young entrepreneurs and producers beyond our major urban centers.

[02:27:51]Trade now transcends fiscal location.

[02:27:55]With the right systems in place, a small enterprise anywhere in Ghana can reach a much broader market.

[02:28:02]At the same time, digital transformation must remain inclusive, skills development, affordability, cyber security, consumer protection, and public trust are essential. And so technology must widen opportunity and not deepen exclusion.

[02:28:21]Ladies and gentlemen, sustainable growth will also depend on how effectively Ghanaian businesses compete internationally.

[02:28:30]Ghana hosts the secretariat of the African continental free trade area. And this gives us an important role in Africa's future trade policy. But just hosting the secretariat alone will not make our businesses competitive.

[02:28:45]Our firms need standard certification systems, packaging, logistics, financing and reliable markets. Information made in Ghana must stand for quality, consistency and reliability.

[02:28:59]It should not merely be a patriotic slogan that we espouse. It should become a mark of confidence in African and global markets that Ghanaian products are quality.

[02:29:14]And I'm happy to congratulate uh captains of uh industry and the CEO network. The expo that we just uh watched the exhibition outside um is a practical expression of the quality of Ghanaian products.

[02:29:31]It allows us to see the innovation, enterprise and productive capacity that already exists within the Ghanaian private sector. Public institutions, investors, and larger corporations must pay closer attention to these new emerging enterprises because in many cases, the solutions we seek abroad are already being developed here at home.

[02:29:54]Ladies and gentlemen, this brings me to one of the key assignment of today's gathering, the launch of the CEO government compact 2026. and I just handed it over to the Minister of Trade.

[02:30:11]At the 9th summit last year, I asked that engagement between government and business should move beyond annual conversations to a more structured framework for follow-up accountability and to be able to achieve measurable results. I'm therefore pleased that this recommendation has now evolved into the CEO government compact 2026.

[02:30:34]This is significant because the relationship between government and the private sector must not be reduced to just speeches, conferences, and ceremonial engagements.

[02:30:49]and must become a working partnership that is grounded in trust, in policy consistency, in mutual accountability and a shared national purpose. And so the compact we have received today is intended to serve as a high level partnership framework between government and the business community promoting accountability, innovation, competitiveness and productivity.

[02:31:15]And so let today's summit not end as another successful event without measurable follow-ups. The next steps must be structured.

[02:31:28]It must move us from general dialogue to concrete commitments and from those commitments to measurable outcomes reflected in investments, exports, industrial growth and jobs.

[02:31:41]For governments, this means we must continue and deepen reforms to make it easier to produce process trade and export here in Ghana. For business, it means responding through your investments, your innovation, your productivity, creating decent jobs, stronger standards, and a deeper commitment to Ghana's industrial future.

[02:32:04]And I can see some of it already with many of you investing more in our private sector. Ladies and gentlemen, as the Ghana CEO summit marks extendth anniversary, I invite all of us to reflect not only on how to far this platform has brought us, but also on the responsibilities that lie ahead of us over the next 10 years.

[02:32:29]Over the years, this summit has evolved into one of the country's most influential platforms for dialogue between government and the private sector. I have personally witnessed this evolution through my continued participation across different periods of my public service. And what has remained constant is the conviction that Ghana's future depends on a strong and confident private sector working alongside a responsive and reformminded state.

[02:32:59]And so in the years ahead, what will matter most is not simply that we gathered here again and exchanged ideas and applauded one another. What will matter is whether the discussions we have held here will translate into better business conditions, more investments, more production, more exports and more decent jobs for our people.

[02:33:26]Ghanaians expect leadership that responds to the pressures of daily life with seriousness and urgency. They want systems that work. They want real opportunities and they want an economy that creates hope, dignity, and prosperity.

[02:33:45]Government is ready to work with the private sector to build a more productive, competitive and inclusive economy. And so I call on all CEOs gathered here today to match this commitment with confidence in Ghana, investment in Ghana, innovation in Ghana, and a firm belief that our country can produce more, export more, and create greater opportunities for our people. And so let this 10th Ghana CEO summit deepen the partnership between government and business. Let it move us from dialogue to delivery, from policy to production, and from production to better lives for our people. And so on that note, and in the spirit of partnership between government and business, I have the honor and privilege to formally launch the CEO government compact 2026.

[02:34:47]May God bless our CEOs. May God bless the Ghanaian private sector and may God bless our homeland Ghana. I thank you.

[02:34:58]Hello, His Excellency John Mama. You can do better.

[02:35:05]Mr. President, humbly I invite you to the center as I invite to join you our convenor NS draft together with the board chair, Professor NS Kaboti and members of the board together with our honorable minister, the commissioner of the GR.

[02:35:26]Please be seated, ladies and gentlemen.

[02:35:37]It is with such joy that we want to acknowledge your entire efforts towards us as the CEO network and particularly us as the CEO summit.

[02:35:50]Mr. President, we present these two citations to you. The first is the Sterling Leadership Citation.

[02:35:59]It is in recognition of your steady leadership from January 2025 to date, demonstrating decisive economic stabilization, renew business confidence, strengthen social interventions and visionary governance that has restored national hope, rebuild trust and position Ghana family on the path toward sustainable growth. The CEO's network at the 10th Ghana CEO summit presents this citation for stellar leadership to you, your excellency John Mama, President of the Republic of Ghana.

[02:36:51]And let's do it.

[02:36:58]Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for our military.

[02:37:13]The next citation, Mr. President, is what we call the citation of appointment as a patron. Heat. Heat.

[02:37:30]development network you are all enjoying inspiration strategic guidance and commitments to advancing executive leadership enterprise growth and social economic transformation here I'm Put your hands together for our patron, the president of the republic, his excellency John Romani Mama.

[02:38:12]It's my pleasure to invite our chairperson together with Mr. Lex Ape and all the members of the high table to please join us for group photo.