Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel
Smith, led a high-level Economic Dialogue in Atlanta, bringing together
business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and development stakeholders to
explore strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening economic ties between
Ghana and the United States.
Addressing participants, Ambassador Smith underscored
Ghana’s commitment to sustainable, long-term partnerships capable of driving
inclusive growth and industrial transformation.
Highlighting opportunities for collaboration between Ghana
and the State of Georgia, Ambassador Smith pointed to synergies in aviation,
logistics, agriculture, education, fintech, manufacturing, and the creative
economy.
“Atlanta’s world-class aviation and logistics ecosystem
aligns naturally with Ghana’s ambition to become the preferred aviation and
transportation hub of West Africa.”
He also paid tribute to the Ghanaian diaspora in the United
States, describing them as key stakeholders in Ghana’s national transformation
agenda.
“Diasporas understand both systems. They understand Ghana
and they understand America. They can therefore serve as bridges of trust,
culture, investment and innovation.”
Joining the Ambassador at the dialogue was Jacques Nack
Ngue, founder of JNN Group Inc. and General Partner of the African Diaspora
Venture Fund, who announced a $40 million investment initiative focused on
enterprise development across Africa, beginning with Ghana.
“The next decade of African growth will be built on the
diaspora, by the diaspora, not just for the diaspora.”
Jacques Nack Ngue explained that the fund is focused on
sectors such as fintech, agricultural innovation, and workforce transformation,
with an emphasis on inclusive economic participation.
“We want the funds to go directly to the farmers, support
agricultural workers, and include them in the economic activity.”
“Stability is the new alpha. Ghana offers exactly what
global capital is now searching for — peaceful rule, democratic governance, and
peaceful transitions.”
The entrepreneur further revealed that one of the fund’s
portfolio companies, Quantum, has already enrolled more than 167,000
agricultural and forestry workers across Africa through its platform.
“I came here to be one of those bridges — to turn the
conversation into execution and goodwill into measurable impact.”
The dialogue also featured contributions from Ghanaian
energy sector stakeholders, including officials from Cen Power Generation
Company, who highlighted investment opportunities and ongoing reforms within
Ghana’s power sector.
Nana Brew-Butler detailed how Cen Power successfully
attracted international and African investors into Ghana’s energy industry.
“We managed to attract investors from all over, and today 68
percent of ownership in the company is African.”
Mr. Butler noted that despite previous challenges relating
to utility arrears, recent engagements with the current administration have
renewed confidence within the energy sector.
“Without power, you cannot get development.”
The official also disclosed that the company currently
contributes about 12 percent of Ghana’s dependable power supply and serves more
than one million households nationwide.
The Economic Dialogue concluded with renewed commitments to
deepen Ghana–U.S. business cooperation, strengthen diaspora engagement, and
develop practical frameworks capable of transforming economic opportunities
into measurable development outcomes.