“Ghana has moved past peak stress, but legitimacy is still on trial,” said Elena Ansong, Frontière Advisor, Ghana. “Companies are judged not just by balance sheets, but by how they handle power reliability, land, water and price explanations. Those who keep promises and share burdens with workers and suppliers are the ones who keep investor trust.”

Ghana’s stabilisation story reflects a wider African trend. UNCTAD reports foreign direct investment to Africa reached a record US$97 billion in 2024, up 75 percent year-on-year, though flows remain highly concentrated and highly sensitive to governance and community risk.

Deanne Chatterton, CEO South Africa and Africa, added, “The firms that do best are those that take local trust seriously before it is tested, not after. Reputation is not just about communication - it is about enterprise value. Leaders who manage stakeholder relationships with credibility unlock growth. Those who don’t, erode it.”

Reputation risk is a global board issue. Aon’s Global Risk Management Survey places damage to brand and reputation among the top risks worldwide, underscoring why stakeholder confidence has become strategic currency.

“Too often companies underestimate how quickly trust can translate into financial impact. In Ghana, the ability to show fairness, explain decisions clearly and evidence discipline is what keeps market confidence intact,” said Kim Polley, CEO UK and Africa.

For Ghana’s capital-intensive sectors - from mining to energy and agribusiness - the stakes are measurable. McKinsey finds major projects continue to face schedule delays and cost overruns, while research associated with the Harvard Kennedy School estimates that a world-class mining project can lose about US$20 million per week in net present value when production is delayed by social conflict.

Frontière Advisory was founded on the ethos that business can be a force for stability in uncertain places - but only when it earns the right to be trusted. The firm combines senior-led counsel with in-market expertise through a panel of Frontière Advisors in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, ensuring strategies are informed by lived experience and executed locally.

About the founders

    Kim Polley is a senior communications and reputation strategist with almost 30 years’ experience advising global and African businesses on unlocking value and mitigating risk in resources, agriculture, energy, financial services, and technology.
    Deanne Chatterton is a recognised business leader who has worked across Africa, the UK and Asia, helping organisations navigate crises, embed ESG, weather M&As, IPOs and investor scrutiny, and to build reputational resilience.

What Frontière Advisory does

    Reputation - evidence-based positioning tailored to local expectations
    Stakeholder Strategy - practical pathways to sustain trust with governments, regulators, communities and investors
    Risk & Crisis - value protection and rapid recovery when risk escalates
    ESG - alignment to unlock capital and future-proof strategy

Frontière Advisory’s teams have helped clients protect millions in enterprise value, enter new markets with credibility, and manage crises under pressure without losing sight of long-term legitimacy.