Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, addressed a business roundtable in Chicago, Illinois, calling for a fundamental shift in how American capital engages with the West African nation. According to MyJoyOnline, the event, co-hosted by the Embassy of Ghana and Region 17, brought together investors, business leaders, and stakeholders to explore economic ties. Smith explicitly rejected investment models focused solely on resource extraction, arguing that such approaches leave little lasting value behind. Instead, he advocated for partnerships that establish local manufacturing, facilitate technology transfer, and develop skills among the Ghanaian workforce.
The ambassador outlined a specific mechanism for this new approach: the creation of a Ghana–Chicago Strategic Business Investment Partnership. This framework is designed to connect interested companies, diaspora professionals, and relevant institutions to foster mutually beneficial commercial relationships. Smith identified five priority sectors for immediate attention: agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, financial services, digital technology, and aviation. He proposed a strict timeline, urging stakeholders to identify interested companies and develop an initial pipeline of investment opportunities within 90 days. This rapid mobilization aims to arrange follow-up engagements, potentially including a business delegation to Ghana.
Smith positioned Ghana as a strategic gateway to the wider African market, which comprises approximately 1.4 billion people. He highlighted opportunities in agricultural processing, cocoa value addition, food production, and logistics. A key objective is to strengthen local supply chains and create specific opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. By focusing on these areas, the ambassador argued that investors can help address the brain drain issue by providing well-paying jobs that retain young talent within the country.
Illinois State Senator William Preston, representing the 16th District, emphasized the historical and cultural connections between Chicago and Ghana. He stressed the need to translate these ties into tangible economic partnerships. Preston noted progress in recruiting teachers from Ghana to address teacher shortages in Illinois and pointed to potential commercial links for local businesses, such as Chicago-based Brown Sugar Bakery. The roundtable also featured insights from diaspora-led investment initiatives, including a real estate entrepreneur who recently brought a delegation of 50 investors to Ghana. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to turning historical connections into lasting business opportunities and jobs.