Ghana’s Economic Reset: Inside the 9th Ghana CEO Summit and the Road to a Futuristic Economy
In a defining moment for Ghana’s economic and business community, the 9th Ghana CEO Summit & Expo convened an unprecedented assembly of public and private sector leaders at the prestigious Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra. Under the theme “Leading Ghana’s Economic Reset: Transforming Business and Governance for a Sustainable Futuristic Economy”, the summit set the tone for what many describe as a pivotal recalibration of the nation’s economic direction.
Hosted by Chief Executives Network Ghana, the summit brought together over 500 CEOs, ministers, economists, entrepreneurs, and international partners for a full day of high-level dialogue, policy articulation, and executive insight sharing. Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and rising digital opportunity, the summit stood out for its unflinching focus on innovation, resilience, and partnership.
A Presidential Vision: Mahama’s National Reset Blueprint
The event’s climax occurred during the Presidential Plenary Session, which featured a keynote address by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, the recently re-elected President of Ghana, marking a historic non-consecutive second term.
“We are at a defining crossroads,” Mahama declared. “This summit is not about speeches; it’s about solutions—how we, as a nation, can steer through global challenges and emerge more unified, digitised, and competitive.”
Mahama’s address outlined a bold vision of fiscal discipline, structural reforms, and private-sector-led innovation, all underscored by significant investments in infrastructure, education, and digital systems. He emphasised the administration’s focus on building digital identity platforms, scaling smart agriculture, and unlocking value chains in logistics, health, and renewable energy.
“Transformation requires courage,” Mahama said, “and courage is what I see in this room.”
Setting the Economic Reset Agenda
Opening the summit, Mr. Ernest De-Graft Egyir, Founding CEO of Chief Executives Network Ghana, delivered a passionate welcome, stating:
“This summit is not a ceremony. It’s a call to action. CEOs must lead as architects of national transformation—not just within boardrooms, but in policy, innovation, and public trust.”
Egyir unveiled a five-pillar structure for the summit: the CEO Masterclass, Presidential Dialogue, CEO Deal Room, Plenary Sessions, and the Corporate Exhibition & Awards, each designed to inspire executive action and systemic impact.
Monetary Stability and AI: From Central Banks to Boardrooms
A major highlight was the keynote by Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana. Speaking on “Monetary Policy, Financial Stability & Innovation”, Asiama introduced sweeping reforms focused on:
- Digital banking infrastructure,
- Fintech regulation, and
- Currency stabilisation frameworks.
“We must digitise confidence,” he stated. “A resilient economy begins with a stable currency—and a forward-looking financial system that embraces innovation without compromising trust.”
Complementing this was Daniel Kwadwo Owusu, Country Managing Partner at Deloitte Ghana, who emphasised the urgency of AI adoption and ESG alignment:
“The future belongs to leaders who turn data into decisions, and innovation into impact. Ghana must not follow—it must leap.”
Owusu presented Deloitte’s AI maturity model, urging companies to embrace intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and sustainable finance tools.
Technology and Transformation: Africa’s Leapfrog Moment
Shiraz Khota of SAP Middle East and Africa delivered the first CEO Masterclass, drawing from African success stories:
- Woolworths SA, cutting its carbon footprint via ERP analytics.
- Rwanda’s tax reform, digitized through SAP platforms.
- Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, using tech to drive financial inclusion.
“The African CEO must think like a startup founder,” said Khota. “Leverage AI, leapfrog legacy systems, and digitise every link in your value chain.”
Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, highlighted how 5G, mobile money, and public-private collaboration are laying the foundations for a digitally inclusive economy. “Connectivity is no longer a service—it’s an economic right,” Blewett noted.
Digital Identity and AI for CEOs
Moses Baiden Jnr., CEO of Margins Group, delivered a rousing keynote on digital identity as a tool for economic democratisation. He urged leaders to invest in biometric ID systems that foster inclusion, reduce fraud, and formalise the informal economy.
Meanwhile, Amar Deep S. Hari, Executive Chairman of IPMC, presented “AI for CEOs”, where he urged Ghanaian companies to integrate machine learning into customer service, product development, and strategic forecasting.
“AI isn’t the future,” Hari stressed. “It’s the present—and it’s either your competitive advantage or your threat.”
Groundbreaking Data from PwC’s Global CEO Survey
Vish Ashiagbor, Senior Partner at PwC Ghana, presented data from the PwC Global CEO Survey, highlighting shifts in CEO priorities post-COVID:
- 74% of global CEOs are pivoting toward sustainability-linked strategies.
- 62% are investing in AI and cybersecurity.
- Only 23% feel “very confident” about revenue growth in the next 12 months.
“In Ghana,” Ashiagbor noted, “CEOs are concerned with energy costs, taxation clarity, and talent flight—but optimistic about intra-African trade and digital finance.”
High-Level Plenaries: Policy Meets Practice
In a riveting Opening Plenary, executives from sectors like energy, fintech, logistics, agriculture, and academia tackled the central question: “What bold decisions must we take today for Ghana to lead tomorrow?”
Key takeaways included:
- Prof. Peter Quartey advocated a national innovation fund.
- Darlington Akogo, AI entrepreneur, called for a sovereign tech investment fund.
- Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh, CEO of BrainWave AfricaTech, pushed for gender-balanced tech investment policies.
“Ghana cannot digitise its economy with analog mindsets,” said Akogo.
CEO Excellence Awards: Honouring Resilience and Vision
The summit concluded with the Ghana CEO Excellence Awards, recognising trailblazers in leadership, innovation, and impact.
🏆 CEO of the Year: Dr. Daniel McKorley, McDan Group
🏆 Leadership Excellence: Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh, BrainWave AfricaTech
🏆 Public Service Leadership: Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister for Finance
🏆 Lifetime Achievement: Moses Baiden Jnr., Margins Group
“These awards are not just trophies,” noted Mr. Egyir. “They are blueprints for what transformational leadership looks like.”
African Multinationals: Ghana’s Global Playbook
The final CEO Business Case Plenary was a masterclass in continental expansion. Mukesh Thakwani of B5 Plus, Abena Amoah of the Ghana Stock Exchange, and others shared actionable lessons in cross-border compliance, trade optimisation, and capital strategy.
Key strategies discussed:
- Leverage AfCFTA protocols to streamline market entry.
- Use digital payment systems to overcome currency fragmentation.
- Pursue strategic mergers with regional players to scale quickly.
Summit Legacy and Outlook
As evening settled over Accra and networking cocktails filled the exhibition hall, the mood was electric yet resolute.
“We’ve talked,” said one delegate. “Now we must execute.”
Indeed, the 9th Ghana CEO Summit will be remembered not just as a gathering, but as a declaration. A declaration that Ghana is not waiting for the future—it is building it.
From digital identity to AI, from sustainable finance to regulatory reform, the summit redefined what it means to lead in Africa. And if the visionaries who filled Kempinski’s grand ballroom have their way, Ghana’s next chapter won’t be just about recovery. It will be about reinvention.