Speakers at the Ghana CEO Vision High-Level Dialogue 2026 have called on chief executive officers (CEOs) to leverage digital finance, boost local production and invest in human capital to accelerate Ghana’s economic growth and development.
They said business leaders must move beyond profit-making to address unemployment, poverty, financial exclusion and the country’s dependence on imported goods.
The speakers stressed that greater access to affordable credit, digital financial services and investment in underserved communities would create opportunities for small businesses, farmers, traders and other players in the informal sector.
They further urged the private sector to embrace innovation, ethical leadership and strategic partnerships to build resilient businesses and contribute to national development.
The call was made at a dialogue, held on the theme, “Reimagining Ghana’s Future: CEOs at the Heart of the Reset Agenda,” where business executives and development partners discussed strategies for driving inclusive growth and shaping the country’s future.
Digital finance
Speaking at the event on Thursday (October 29), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MobileMoney Limited, Shaibu Haruna, said the country had made significant progress in digital financial inclusion but needed to translate that achievement into economic empowerment and enterprise growth.
He said mobile money had evolved beyond basic transfers and payments to support savings, credit, insurance and business transactions.
Mr Haruna explained that digital transaction records could help traders, farmers and small business owners demonstrate their financial capacity and access credit without relying solely on traditional collateral.
He challenged financial institutions to develop products that addressed the needs of underserved businesses, particularly women-owned enterprises and rural communities.
He also identified financial literacy, cybersecurity and trust as critical to ensuring that customers used digital financial services safely and productively.
Mr Haruna said the next phase of digital finance should help businesses progress from transactions to savings, responsible borrowing and investment, thereby creating opportunities for wealth generation.
Local production
The Chairman of Ishmael Yamson and Associates, Dr Ishmael Yamson, urged business leaders to increase local production, adopt new technologies and reduce the country’s dependence on imported goods.
He said Ghana’s development challenges required home-grown solutions and responsible leadership, stressing that decisions made by CEOs on production, employment, taxation and business ethics had consequences for the wider economy.
Dr Yamson also called for greater integrity in business leadership, urging executives to consider the legacy they would leave for future generations, further challenging them to make difficult but necessary decisions to strengthen domestic industries and build a more self-reliant economy.
Investment in vulnerable communities
Delivering the keynote address, the UNESCO Country Director, Edmond Moukala N’Gouemo, called on businesses to make inclusive development a central part of their investment strategies.
He said access to health care, education, clean water, affordable energy and social protection was essential to developing a productive workforce and creating sustainable markets.
Mr N’Gouemo urged businesses to extend investment to underserved rural communities, arguing that such interventions could reduce poverty, create jobs and expand economic opportunities beyond major urban centres.
He also advocated a shift in how corporate achievement was recognised, proposing that businesses should be assessed not only on profitability but also on their contributions to poverty reduction, resilient supply chains and community development.
Partnership for growth
The Chief Executive Director of Globe Production, Latif Abubakar, urged participants to use the dialogue to develop practical ideas, forge strategic partnerships and pursue measurable results.
He said responsible leadership, innovation and collaboration were necessary to create jobs, strengthen enterprises and shape a prosperous future for Ghana.
Mr Abubakar encouraged business leaders to remain relevant, build meaningful relationships, embrace technology and maintain credibility through integrity and verifiable achievements.
He expressed the hope that the dialogue would generate ideas and partnerships capable of translating discussions into concrete action for national development.
Panel discussion
During a panel discussion, the speakers, the CEO of MTN Mobile Money, Shaibu Haruna, and the Managing Director of the National Investment Bank PLC, Dr Doli-Wura Awushi Abdul-Malik Seidu Zakaria, highlighted the need for affordable, long-term financing for businesses and national infrastructure.
The speakers called for improved cross-border digital payment systems to support exporters and small businesses conducting transactions across African markets.
They also emphasised the need to mobilise domestic capital, develop financial technology talent and improve financial literacy to strengthen the financial ecosystem.
The speakers maintained that stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions and the private sector would help unlock investment opportunities and support sustainable economic grow
