The Africa Build Show, Ghana Investment & Trade Week (GITW) 2026 and Megawatt Africa opened with a big bang on Tuesday, July 7, in Accra, drawing high-level VIP delegations from government, diplomatic missions, investors, development partners and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
The three-day event is being held in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GhCCI) with support from the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), reinforcing Ghana's position as a leading destination for trade, investment, infrastructure and sustainable development.
Held under the theme "Powering Ghana's 24-Hour Economy: Integrating Infrastructure, Electric Mobility and Sustainable Real Estate for Investment and Trade Competitiveness," the event running until July 9 has officially launched international exhibitions, high-level conferences, strategic dialogues, investment forums, B2B matchmaking and networking opportunities, including strategic meetings between China's Trade Development Bureau and the GIPC as well as face-to-face meetings between exhibitors and visitors.
Chairing the opening ceremony, the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, called on local and international investors to take advantage of Ghana's political stability, peaceful environment and growing investment opportunities, stressing the importance of collaboration between traditional authorities, government and the private sector in creating conditions for sustainable economic growth.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Presidency, Senior Presidential Advisor and Coordinator of the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat, Dr. Augustus Goosie Tanoh, outlined government's vision of transforming Ghana into a production-driven economy anchored on industrialisation, renewable energy and value addition. He said the 24-Hour Economy programme seeks to address Ghana's long-standing challenge of exporting raw materials while importing finished products by expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and increasing the production of goods for both local consumption and international markets.
Dr. Tanoh noted that while landmark projects established after independence, including major energy and industrial initiatives, laid the foundation for economic growth, Ghana's full industrial potential remains largely untapped. He stressed that increasing local processing and manufacturing is essential to creating jobs, improving exports and building a competitive economy.
The Senior Presidential Advisor identified affordable and reliable energy as a critical requirement for industrial growth, revealing that the Secretariat is co-developing up to 1.5 gigawatts of utility-scale solar power supported by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Construction of the first 100-megawatt facility is expected to commence next month, with the initiative expected to reduce electricity costs for industries and improve manufacturing competitiveness.
Representing the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), Dr. Mary Awusi, reaffirmed government's commitment to creating a competitive environment for investors. She highlighted incentives under the Free Zones Scheme, including a ten-year corporate tax exemption, customs duty waivers on production inputs, unrestricted repatriation of profits and access to major international markets.
Speaking on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Chairman of MIE Group, David Wang, said the organisation remains committed to using the Ghana Investment and Trade Week platform to attract foreign direct investment and strengthen business partnerships between Ghana and international markets. Wang, whose organisation MIE Events is the organiser of GITW, said previous editions of the summit had successfully connected Ghanaian businesses with investors from countries including China, India, Türkiye and Italy, resulting in several manufacturing initiatives being established or currently being developed in the country. He said MIE Group's more than 10 years of engagement with Ghana had reinforced its confidence in the country's potential as an investment destination, citing its political stability, security and strategic position as a gateway to West Africa.
Over 20 countries are participating, including Italy, India, Turkey, UAE, Libya, Egypt, USA, Singapore and Rwanda, showcasing the latest innovations, advancements and cutting-edge technologies in construction and energy infrastructure. The co-located events serve as premier platforms for facilitating public-private partnerships, attracting foreign direct investment, accelerating infrastructure development, promoting sustainable energy solutions and strengthening Ghana's position as a regional hub for trade and industrial growth, providing opportunities for local and global entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate and expand their market reach in the promising West African market.
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