In Chicago, the Embassy of Ghana and Region 17 hosted a business roundtable that brought together investors, business leaders and stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties between Ghana and the United States.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, stressed the need for productive investment that creates sustainable, well‑paying jobs for young Ghanaians. He warned that “I am not interested merely in investment that extracts resources and leaves little lasting value behind. I want investment that builds factories, investment that develops skills, investment that creates supply chains.”
Smith announced the creation of a Ghana–Chicago Strategic Business Investment Partnership to connect interested companies, investors, diaspora professionals and relevant institutions. He singled out agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, financial services, digital technology and aviation as priority sectors, urging stakeholders to identify companies, develop an initial pipeline of opportunities and arrange follow‑up engagements within 90 days, including a possible business delegation to Ghana.
Speaking at the event, Illinois State Senator William Preston highlighted the historic ties between Chicago and Ghana and called for translating those connections into tangible economic partnerships. He noted opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, technology, workforce development and education, and announced plans to recruit teachers from Ghana to help address teacher shortages in Illinois.
Other participants shared diaspora‑led investment success stories, such as a Chicago real‑estate entrepreneur who organized a delegation of 50 investors for Ghana’s eighth annual conference. The roundtable reinforced a shared interest in building practical, mutually beneficial commercial relationships that turn historical connections into lasting partnerships, business opportunities and jobs.
