President John Dramani Mahama has warned Western investors that their reluctance to invest in Africa could cost them profitable opportunities, pointing to the growing presence of Chinese and Indian investors across the continent.
Speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit 2026, Mahama said Africa offered attractive returns and urged international investors to move beyond their hesitation and take advantage of available opportunities.
“It’s to their own disadvantage if you are still skittish about Africa. The returns are good and everybody is coming. The Indians are there, the Chinese are there, everybody’s coming,” he said.
Mahama noted that while some Western investors spent considerable time assessing issues such as judicial independence and media freedom, others had already moved ahead with investments.
The President stressed that Ghana remained open to investors from all parts of the world and rejected suggestions that the country was caught in a contest between competing global powers.
“We are friends to all and enemies to none, and Ghana’s policy of non-alignment has served us well. And so we welcome investors from all over the world,” he stated.
“It’s not about competition. It’s about investment and a fair return to everybody, including ourselves.”
Mahama added that Ghana maintained friendly relations with the United States, the European Union, China and Russia.
He also disclosed plans to attend the Russia-Africa Summit, where he intends to appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire.
“Indeed, I’m going to Russia for the Russia-Africa Summit and try to convince President Putin to have a ceasefire if I can,” he said.
