Ambassador Victor Smith, as part of his strategic visit to Atlanta, Georgia, at the instance of the Ghana International Chamber of Commerce (GHICC) Georgia, on Friday, 15th May, 2026 held a high level meeting with the Mayor of the city of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, emphasising partnerships between American businesses and investors with the Ghanaian diaspora.
“My mission is to go on outreach and look for opportunities to excite people about the investment opportunities that exist in Ghana. Opportunities that foreign investors in America can take advantage of. The emphasis is on partnering the diasporan Ghanaian professionals and entrepreneurs in America to go in there and take advantage of what we are offering as a nation.”
The Ambassador acknowledged Atlanta’s stand as one of the most influential global gateways with established strengths in aviation, logistics, agriculture, higher education, finance and creative industries.
“I always look forward to Atlanta…and any opportunities that we can work with in the city is welcome…”
The Ambassador re-echoed that Ghana hosts the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, thus offering a stable and credible entry point into the African market of over 1.4 billion people. This advantage alone, he said, creates increasing demand for structured trade, investment and institutional partnerships that both countries can take advantage of.
Mayor Dickens praised Ghana’s stance of wanting investment with Ghana, not to Ghana, thereby maintaining sovereignty, respect and national dignity, engendering real bilateral conversations.
” I respect that greatly. That is the beginning of true relationships, true exchange. Already trade between US and Ghana are almost faily even.”
Mayor Dickens said he looks forward to seeing the people of Atlanta do business with all the African countries especially since Atlanta has the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.
“I want Atlanta to be the gateway to Africa. We want the 54 African nations to think of Atlanta first and for us to connect for investment relationships and people to people exchange.”
He said for now, there is a seasonal direct flight from Atlanta to Accra during Christmas to the end of march and would see how they could influence the airlines to increase the flight periods to Ghana to encourage bilateral cooperation in trade and partnerships.
The Ambassador welcomed the idea and revealed that Ghana has began the process to acquire and begin its national airline and “if the load is good in Atlanta, we could push for direct flights to Atlanta from Accra.”
Ambassador Smith concluded that
“Just as you want Atlanta to be the gateway to Africa, America can come through you through Africa to Ghana.”
The Ambassador was accompanied by the Investment team from the Embassy, the President of GHICC Matilda Arhin as well as executives of the GHICC.
The meeting ended with both sides pledging their readiness to work together for their mutual benefit.
