Ghana’s AfCFTA Role, U.S. Trade Ties Take Centre Stage at UNGA81

Ghana’s strategic position in Africa’s trade and investment landscape is set to receive renewed international attention as global communications agency Allison Worldwide and African media and communications company BHM convene the 2026 Africa Breakfast Conversations (ABC) on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York.

The high-level, invite-only gathering is scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026, at Allison Worldwide’s offices in the World Trade Center and will bring together business leaders, policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders to discuss the next phase of Africa’s economic partnership with the United States and the wider global business community.

This year’s event is particularly significant for Ghana, which hosts the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the continental framework aimed at deepening intra-African trade and economic integration.

Ghana Positioned as Gateway to Africa

The country’s role as the host of the AfCFTA Secretariat has increasingly placed Accra at the centre of conversations around Africa’s trade ambitions and the continent’s engagement with international investors.

Ghana also maintains significant commercial ties with the United States, with the organisers citing U.S. Trade Representative data indicating that bilateral goods trade between the two countries stands at approximately US$2.5 billion.

The country continues to participate in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides eligible African countries with preferential access to the U.S. market for a range of products.

Ghanaian exports to the U.S. include agricultural commodities, apparel, processed cocoa, and petroleum-related products, among others.

The event organisers also point to Ghana’s recent export performance as an indication of the country’s expanding role in international commerce.

Data from the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Statistical Service cited in the announcement show that Ghana recorded total exports of GH¢110.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, resulting in a reported trade surplus of GH¢46.1 billion.

Trade, Investment and Africa’s Next Chapter

The 2026 Africa Breakfast Conversations will be held under the theme “Africa’s Next Chapter: Trade, Partnership, Investment & Global Influence.”

Discussions are expected to focus on issues that are increasingly important to African businesses seeking to compete across borders, including the future of AGOA preferences, cross-border payment systems, digital transformation, infrastructure development, and value-added exports under AfCFTA.

The organisers say the gathering will also explore how African businesses can build stronger regional and international partnerships and translate the continent’s economic potential into tangible commercial opportunities.

Claudine Moore, Managing Director, Africa at Allison Worldwide, said the platform was created to facilitate engagement between African, American, and international business leaders around issues affecting the continent’s economic future.

“For the past few years, we have provided a platform during UNGA for leaders from Africa, the U.S., and the global business community to connect around the issues and opportunities shaping the continent’s future,” she said.

She noted that markets such as Ghana were increasingly developing opportunities in areas including technology, agribusiness, and the creative industries.

According to Moore, the focus of this year’s gathering is on building relationships capable of translating into commercial partnerships and cross-border business opportunities.

Africa’s Growing Commercial Influence

Ayẹni Adékúnlé, CEO of BHM Holdings, said Africa’s economic potential is already being demonstrated by entrepreneurs and businesses operating across the continent.

“Africa is no longer a future opportunity; it’s a present-day growth market,” he said.

He pointed to the emergence of entrepreneurs building scalable, pan-African businesses and said the gathering would connect innovators, investors, and policymakers working to create conditions for greater economic value.

High-Level Business Dialogue

The Africa Breakfast Conversations has previously brought together senior representatives from major African and international organisations, including Access Holdings, Future Africa, MTN Group, Goldman Sachs, Citi Bank, NBA Africa, UBA, and The King’s Trust.

The 2026 edition takes place against the backdrop of UNGA81, whose central theme is “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.”

The Africa-focused business dialogue is expected to provide a platform for examining how sustainable investment, job creation, economic self-reliance, and stronger commercial partnerships can contribute to Africa’s development.

For Ghana, the discussions offer another international platform to highlight the country’s role in Africa’s emerging trade architecture, particularly through its hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat and its longstanding economic relationship with the United States.

Africa Breakfast Conversations 2026 is an invite-only event. Further details on speakers, panel discussions, and media accreditation are expected to be announced by the organisers.