Accra is set to host the 16th Friends of Africa Summit Global on September 18, 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City. Operating under the theme Scaling Investment Partnerships, the gathering brings together international business leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to unlock cross-border funding and trade opportunities across African markets.
Moving from boardrooms to investor pitches, the economic forum marks a significant milestone as the initiative brings 15 years of experience hosting economic summits in North America to the African continent. Ghana is set to host the 16th African Economic Summit, marking a major milestone in the Friends of Africa (FOA) initiative as the organization brings 15 years of experience hosting economic summits in North America to the African continent. Organised in partnership with the Ghanaian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, CASA Foundation, and the Friends of Africa Coalition, the two-day gathering aims to transform commercial ideas into durable trade relationships.
The Friends of Africa Summit is being presented in partnership with the Ghanaian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, CASA Foundation and the Friends of Africa Coalition. The organisers say the summit is designed to strengthen connections between African entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, business leaders and the global African diaspora, with the broader objective of converting business relationships into investment and trade opportunities.
Accra to host global investors, business leaders for FOA
Summit Agenda, Key Dates, and Venue Details in Accra
The structured programme opens with informal Friends of Africa sessions from September 16–17, including one-on-one meetings with founders, followed by a private reception for speakers and sponsors scheduled for September 17. The core public sessions take place on Friday, September 18, running from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra, under the theme Scaling Investment Partnerships.
Registration for the main summit is US$200 / approximately GH¢2,280. Beyond traditional plenary panels and fireside chats, the schedule features a dedicated start-up pitch competition. One of the major attractions will be a start-up pitch competition featuring 40 start-ups presenting their value propositions before investors and funding groups in the hope of competing for seed capital.
Connecting Regional Enterprise with Global Diaspora Capital
Business leaders to network at summit
Discussions throughout the summit will center on practical avenues for enterprise growth, navigating cross-border collaboration, and engaging the global African diaspora. Business owners attending the summit gain direct access to financial leaders to examine what institutional investors look for when assessing African businesses and start-ups, and how companies can build stronger partnerships with international investors. Discussions will further cover diaspora investment, cross-border business collaboration and how governments, financial institutions and the private sector can work together to unlock Africa’s economic potential.
The event is expected to provide opportunities for business networking, investment discussions, strategic partnerships and entrepreneurial engagement, while connecting stakeholders from Ghana, Canada and other international markets.
Ghana set to host 16th African Economic Summit
The event also establishes a commercial marketplace where selected Canadian companies seeking partnerships in Ghana can connect with professionals and businesses, supported by cultural showcases highlighting Ghanaian food, music, and entrepreneurial talent, adding a cultural dimension to the economic and investment discussions.
Sponsorship Tiers and Economic Context
The summit is open to business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, investors, financial institutions, government representatives, trade and investment organisations, professional service firms, development organisations, academics and members of the African diaspora. Interested participants can register through the Friends of Africa Summit event page on the Ghanaian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce website.
The third edition of the Made in Ghana Business Summit is set to host over 300 influential figures from both the public and private sectors. The summit slated for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre is themed Promoting Regional Industrialization and Business Integration in Ghana,
aiming to foster the consumption of locally made goods and services to drive national economic growth.
