Simon Madjie in a group picture with the Colombian business delegation
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Simon Madjie, has outlined the government’s key economic priorities for 2026, urging investors and private sector players to position themselves to take advantage of opportunities in infrastructure development, agriculture and value-chain expansion.
He said the recent economic stability had created a strong platform for the government to pursue a focused growth agenda aimed at addressing long-standing structural challenges in the economy.
Madjie made the remarks at an engagement with a Colombian business delegation in Accra, held on the sidelines of a state visit by the Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez.
He said infrastructure development would be a major driver of growth, with government planning to invest nearly $3 billion in the rehabilitation and construction of highways and road networks across the country.
According to him, the scale of the planned road projects would create significant opportunities for construction firms and related industries, while also improving connectivity to support economic activity nationwide.
The GIPC Chief Executive also highlighted the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development (24H+) policy as a central pillar of the government’s growth strategy, describing it as an accelerated development programme rather than simply an extension of working hours.
He explained that the policy sought to make Ghana more self-sufficient by strengthening domestic production and improving the overall economic landscape.
Madjie noted that Ghana currently spends about $3 billion annually on food imports, adding that government interventions were focused not only on food production but also on strengthening the entire agricultural value chain, from farm-level production to processing and distribution.
He said improving linkages between farms and processing centres would help reduce post-harvest losses, enhance value addition and create sustainable jobs.
As part of the 24-hour economy initiative, Simon Madjie mentioned the Volta Economic Corridor programme, which aims to develop about two million hectares of land for year-round agricultural production.
He said the programme would harness water resources around the Volta River to support irrigation and all-season farming, while also creating opportunities in plantation agriculture.
Madjie disclosed that plans were underway to develop about 200,000 hectares of new cocoa farmland within the corridor to boost production and export earnings.
He called on both local and foreign investors to collaborate with the government to leverage the opportunities arising from the infrastructure drive and the 24-hour economy programme.
The Colombian business delegation was led by the Deputy Minister of Commerce, Tito Rufino Yepes who reiterated Colombia’s commitment to deepening relations with Ghana and outlined the Colombia Strategy for Africa, a framework aimed at expanding diplomatic, economic and cultural engagement.
He emphasised South–South cooperation, shared historical ties, particularly with Afro-descendant communities, and Colombia’s intention to leverage its development and peacebuilding experience to enhance trade and strategic partnerships with Ghana and other African countries.
