The Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), Samantha Cohen CVO OBE, led a high-level Commonwealth delegation to Ghana in early February 2026 to advance trade partnerships and investment opportunities across Africa.
Ms Cohen, who previously served as Private Secretary to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Director of the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at 10 Downing Street, delivered a keynote address alongside Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) held at the Accra International Conference Centre from 4 to 6 February.
The three-day forum convened senior government leaders, private sector executives, and international partners to advance Africa’s economic integration agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In her capacity as CEO of CWEIC, Ms Cohen co-chaired the Ghana International Advisory Council with Dr John Apea, Commonwealth Envoy and Head of Mission. The council meeting, held at Kempinski Hotel in Gold Coast City, brought together senior Commonwealth leadership and strategic partners.
Participants included CWEIC Advisory Board Member Shanthi Annan and CWEIC Country Director for Ghana Ben Cobblah, alongside representatives from KGL Group, Virtual Infosec Africa, Zenith Bank, and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
At the Africa Prosperity Dialogues, Ms Cohen co-chaired a high-level roundtable discussion on AfCFTA and Commonwealth collaboration with Ms Annan. The session examined how the Commonwealth can support AfCFTA implementation and strengthen intra-African trade through coordinated public and private sector engagement.
The Commonwealth delegation included Dr Bimal Kantaria, Chairman and CEO of Elgon Group, Kayode Adeleke, CEO of RusselSmith Group, and Dulaj Vimukthi Manoarachchige, CEO of ESNA Group. The delegation held strategic engagements with leading Ghanaian business executives.
These meetings included discussions with Dr Said Deraz, Chairman of Gold Coast Refinery, Alex Mould, CEO of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Joana Gyan Cudjoe, Chairperson of Golden Empire Legacy Limited, Dr Benjamin Dzoboku, Managing Director of Republic Bank Ghana, and Dr Kamal Deen Ali, CEO of the Ghana Maritime Authority.
Ms Cohen emphasized the private sector’s role in mobilizing capital, expertise, and innovation to support Africa’s growth ambitions. She said the Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to unlock this potential by connecting investors, businesses, and governments in practical partnerships.
She highlighted the economic benefits of what is termed the Commonwealth Advantage, noting that it is estimated to be up to 21 percent cheaper for Commonwealth countries to trade with one another. Ms Cohen said this provides a powerful platform to accelerate AfCFTA implementation, deepen intra-African trade, and deliver sustainable economic growth for Ghana and the wider continent.
Dr Apea emphasized CWEIC’s convening role in bringing together public and private sectors to advance economic prosperity. He said CWEIC helps transform policy intent into bankable projects and investable opportunities that drive trade, industrialization, and long-term development for Ghana and across the Commonwealth by aligning government priorities with private sector capital, expertise, and execution capability.
The visit included engagements with multiple government ministries and agencies. Ms Cohen met with Hon Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, to discuss Ghana’s blue economy potential, sustainable fisheries, and opportunities for investment and knowledge exchange across Commonwealth markets.
She also held discussions with Prof John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), exploring the role of professional education and skills development in supporting Ghana’s private sector growth.
Additional engagements included meetings with Chief Dr Doli Wura Zakaria, Managing Director of National Investment Bank, focusing on legal frameworks, banking support, and investment facilitation for businesses operating across borders.
The CWEIC delegation also held discussions with Afreximbank representatives, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, the Ghana Shippers Authority, and Tiryaki Agro regarding agribusiness trade flows and food security.
Ms Cohen has served as CEO of CWEIC since July 2025. She brings over 30 years of experience advising senior leaders across public and private sectors, including serving as Chief of Staff to the global CEO of Rio Tinto and holding senior roles within the Royal Household for more than 17 years.
CWEIC is a commercial non-profit membership organization with an official mandate from Commonwealth heads of government to facilitate trade and investment throughout the 54 Commonwealth member nations. The organization uses the convening power and trusted network of the Commonwealth to drive trade and investment opportunities for member states.
The Commonwealth represents one of the world’s most significant economic and demographic networks, comprising 56 countries with approximately 2.7 billion people. The Commonwealth’s combined economy is valued at approximately 14.2 trillion dollars and is projected to grow to 20 trillion dollars by 2029.
Ghana serves as host to the AfCFTA Secretariat and has positioned itself as a leading voice in advancing practical continental trade integration. The Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2026 attracted over 7,000 delegates from 104 countries and focused on empowering small and medium enterprises, women, and youth in Africa’s single market.
