Ghana must turn $2.61bn investment commitments into jobs, industries – BoG Governor

Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama has called on policymakers and investors to ensure that investment commitments translate into jobs, industries, increased exports, and higher incomes for Ghanaians.

He made these remarks during the launch of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre’s 2025 Annual Investment Report on Friday, August 21, 2026.

According to him, the success of Ghana’s investment drive should not be measured solely by the value of investments announced, but by the extent to which those investments improve productivity and the living standards of citizens.

“The task before us is to translate investment commitments into tangible outcomes – new industries, modern technologies, productive infrastructure, increased exports, and sustainable jobs,” Dr. Asiama said.

The Governor said Ghana had made significant progress from the economic challenges of recent years, including high inflation, exchange rate pressures, tighter financing conditions and declining investor confidence.

He noted that headline inflation, which had risen above 54 percent at the height of the economic difficulties, had declined to 4.6 percent in July 2026.

According to him, the improvement was driven by disciplined monetary policy, fiscal consolidation and structural reforms under Ghana’s IMF-supported programme.

“This achievement was not accidental. It was the result of coordinated policy action, institutional commitment, and the resilience of the Ghanaian economy,” he said.

Dr. Asiama said the cedi had also recorded a significant recovery against major international currencies, while external reserves had strengthened and economic activity had gained momentum across sectors.

He said the developments had contributed to creating a more stable and predictable environment for businesses and investors.

The Governor said Ghana recorded approximately US$2.61 billion in new investments across 253 projects in 2025, describing the figure as an indication that investors continued to see opportunities in the Ghanaian economy despite global uncertainties.

He said existing investors were not only maintaining their presence in Ghana but were expanding their operations and reinvesting in the economy, with growing interest in manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics and technology-enabled services.

“This trend aligns with our broader economic ambition, to transition from an economy that primarily exports raw materials to one that creates greater value through industrialisation, innovation, and competitiveness,” Dr. Asiama said.

He also highlighted the registration of 71 wholly Ghanaian-owned projects valued at nearly US$686 million, saying it demonstrated continued confidence among domestic investors.

Dr. Asiama, however, said Ghana still had work to do, particularly in addressing infrastructure gaps, reducing the cost of capital, enhancing productivity and strengthening the competitiveness of local enterprises.

“Ultimately, our success will not be measured by the value of investments announced, but by the extent to which they improve productivity, expand employment opportunities, raise incomes, and enhance the standard of living of the Ghanaian people,” he stressed.

The Governor further said Ghana must take advantage of its position as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, as well as its young population, improving infrastructure, abundant resources and growing digital economy.

He said initiatives including the 24-Hour Economy Programme, digitalisation and stronger investor aftercare were helping to improve the ease of doing business and create new opportunities for investment.

Dr. Asiama also called for greater efforts to channel diaspora remittances into productive investment, enterprise development, innovation and job creation.

“The opportunity before us therefore extends beyond attracting investment commitments; it is about building a sustainable ecosystem that converts savings into productive capital, strengthens trust between Ghana and its global diaspora, and creates pathways for long-term economic participation,” he said.

He said the Bank of Ghana was committed to working with financial institutions, fintechs, and investment partners to develop trusted and innovative financial products that would mobilise diaspora funds for national development.

Dr. Asiama said Ghana’s improving economic conditions presented an opportunity to strengthen the country’s position as one of Africa’s promising investment destinations, but stressed that the focus must now be on turning investment into real economic transformation.