GCB Bank, Ghana’s largest indigenous bank, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting trade, investment and private sector growth across Africa as a main sponsor of the UK-Ghana Trade & Investment Summit 2026.

The summit, held in Accra, on the theme, "A Decade of Trust, A Future Always On: Scaling the UK-Ghana Growth Partnership", brought together government officials, business leaders, investors and development partners from Ghana and the UK to explore opportunities for deeper commercial collaboration and economic growth.

Representing GCB Bank, the Executive Head, Corporate Banking, Linus Kumi, participated in a fireside chat on Ghana's role as a gateway to Africa and the practical steps needed to translate that position into meaningful business opportunities.

"Ghana doesn't become a gateway to Africa because we say it is. It becomes a gateway when businesses can use it to successfully reach the rest of the continent," Mr Kumi said.

He said Ghana's attractiveness as an investment destination should be measured not only by the number of businesses entering the country, but also by their ability to use Ghana as a platform for accessing markets across Africa.

Mr Kumi said unlocking that opportunity required a connected ecosystem that brought together financing, logistics, market access, payment infrastructure and regional trade networks.

The discussion highlighted some of the practical challenges businesses face when expanding across borders, including access to working capital, payment efficiency, foreign exchange management and trade-related risks.

Addressing those barriers, he said, was essential to helping businesses to convert opportunities into transactions and scale successfully across regional markets.

Mr Kumi underscored the role of financial institutions in supporting cross-border trade through solutions such as working-capital financing, trade finance, guarantees, cash management and foreign exchange services.

GCB, in a statement, said supporting platforms such as the UK-Ghana Trade & Investment Summit aligned with its broader role in enabling businesses to grow, invest and expand beyond national borders.

“As Ghana's largest indigenous bank, GCB continues to provide businesses with the financing and banking solutions needed to participate in regional and international trade,” the statement said.

Context

The summit took place at a time when Ghana and the UK are seeking to deepen economic cooperation through increased trade, investment and private-sector partnerships.

Against this backdrop, discussions focused on practical measures that can strengthen commercial linkages, enhance competitiveness and unlock new opportunities across African markets.

GCB's participation reinforced its commitment to helping businesses navigate growth opportunities, connect to new markets and contribute to the expansion of trade and investment across the continent, the statement added.