Side Events

Ghana got IT right! – Investment Day on IT Services

This pre-event connects German companies with Ghana's fast-growing IT and digital services sector, a market expanding at nearly 10% annually and increasingly positioned for AI-enabled service delivery. Meet industry leaders, explore partnership opportunities with leading IT companies serving the European market, learn about Ghana's growing tech talent pool, and discover how Ghana is emerging as a strategic partner for AI-driven digital service delivery. Don't miss this chance to get ahead in one of Africa's most dynamic IT markets.

Baden-Württemberg: Company Pitch Session from THE LÄND

Organized by: Baden Wuettenberg International

From Connection to Capital: The Business Value of Diaspora in German-African Cooperation

Organized by: German Africa Foundation, Afrika Verein der Deutschen Wirtschaft and AiDiA Africa

Africa’s diaspora is an important driver of investment, entrepreneurship and cross-border business. It’s not just its networks but also its capital and expertise that offer significant potential to advance German–African trade and economic cooperation. On the sidelines of GABS 2026 in Accra, the German Africa Foundation (DAS), AiDiA Africa, and the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein) will convene a focused business dialogue. Using Ghana as a practical starting point, the discussion will examine where diaspora expertise can strengthen investment preparation and implementation and what companies, policymakers and public institutions can do to make such collaboration more structured and commercially relevant.

Beyond the Last Mile - Connectivity, Opportunity and the Future of Digital Cooperation

Organized by: Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Ghana Office

Critical Raw Materials: Building Partnerships between Germany and Africa for Sustainable Supply Chains

Organized by: German Mining Network

Africa possesses a significant share of the world's mineral resources and offers substantial potential for diversifying critical raw material supply chains. Nevertheless, the engagement of German private and public sector remains limited. This panel discussion will examine the factors preventing stronger private-sector involvement and discuss the framework conditions needed to encourage greater investment and business activity across the raw materials value chain to translate political commitments into tangible projects.

Global Gateway in Practice: Opportunities for Investors and Enterprises

Organized by: European Union Delegation to Ghana

The European Union and Africa and Ghana have developed a strong and longstanding economic partnership, encompassing trade, investment, sustainable development and private-sector cooperation. The EU is committed to deepening this partnership through Global Gateway, the EU's strategy for supporting high-quality, sustainable and inclusive investment and connectivity partnerships.

What Happens When the Deal Goes Wrong: Arbitration for African Cross-Border Business

Organized by: DIHK Arbitration Court

Every cross-border contract is written assuming nothing will go wrong. This session is about what happens when it does: how businesses trading with Africa actually end up resolving disputes, what that costs them, and what determines whether an award turns into money in the bank or a folder that never gets enforced. Practitioners from Ghana, Nigeria, and Germany who have lived through this decision for real clients share what they have learned, including where the SGH fits as one of the options on the table. It is a grounded look at a decision most people only think about after it is too late.

Business Day Follow-up

Organized by: Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Making Your Sales Partnerships Successful

Organized by: Reutlingen-University (Think Tank Doing Business in Africa)

This workshop brings together the perspectives of both German manufacturers and African importers and distributors. The unique approach combines practical business experiences and applied scientific insights for a fruitful and comprehensive discussion and actionable outcomes, following a “Business meets Science” approach.

Official Opening: Westerwelle Startup Haus Accra

Organized by: Westerwelle Foundation

This November, the Westerwelle Foundation opens its first hub in West Africa and will celebrate the occasion in the company of business, political, and entrepreneurial leaders during GABS. The invite-only event places Ghana's founders at its centre. Guests will hear from distinguished political representatives from Ghana and Germany as well as entrepreneurs already defining the country's ecosystem. This is an invitation-only event. Your official invitation, with full details, will follow in due course.

Doing Business in Africa – Legal Roadmap for German Investors

Organized by: Alexander & Partner Rechtsanwaelte mbB

This session, hosted by Alexander & Partner at the German-African Business Summit 2026 in Accra, Ghana, provides German investors with a comprehensive legal roadmap for doing business in Africa. The event convenes leading legal experts from four strategic African markets – Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Nigeria – to examine critical legal frameworks governing cross-border investment. Topics include jurisdictional choice and the OHADA legal system, market entry structures such as subsidiaries, branch offices, joint ventures, and distributorships, foreign investment regulations and approval processes, profit repatriation and currency controls, as well as tax and compliance considerations. Designed for companies planning initial market entry or expanding existing African operations, the session offers practical guidance and networking opportunities with experienced practitioners in African commercial law and dispute resolution.

Local Jobs, Lasting Ownership: A Model for Government Digital Infrastructure

Organized by: TYPO3 Association

Public institutions frequently operate numerous independently built and maintained websites, increasing costs and making budgets difficult to predict. This session presents a proven alternative: standardizing government websites on a shared open-source platform, supported by a cooperation model combining government commitment, sustainable investment, a trained local workforce and an internationally supported technical ecosystem. Beyond job creation, we will explore how this approach keeps technology investment within the local economy while giving institutions lasting ownership and control of their digital infrastructure. Drawing on Germany’s federal Government Site Builder and Rwanda’s national rollout of 250 government websites using TYPO3, the session will demonstrate what can be achieved in practice. Together with Ghanaian government and business stakeholders, we will discuss how a comparable model could support Ghana’s digital transformation and create opportunities for local technology companies.

Health and Pharma Industry: Where German Technology Meets African Growth

Organized by: GIZ (PharmaVax Ghana)

Rising healthcare demand is accelerating growth in Africa’s pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors. As African companies respond by investing in advanced production capabilities, quality systems, workforce development and technology, opportunities are growing for German and European companies to build partnerships that extend beyond exports. Through two focused panels, the session will showcase practical examples of German–African collaboration in pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical technology, while connecting German companies and African industry partners to explore further market opportunities, investment and long-term business partnerships.

Women’s Business Breakfast – 9th Edition: Closing the Gap: Business Solutions for Women’s Access to Finance in Africa

Organized by: The Agency for Business and Economic Development and the Federation of German Industries (BDI)

Financial technology is one of the most transformative forces reshaping African economies. From mobile money to embedded lending, from digital insurance to blockchain-based trade finance, fintech is closing long-standing gaps in financial inclusion; and women are at the heart of both the opportunity and the challenge. This Women's Business Breakfast brings female leaders from politics, business, and civil society from Africa and Europe into direct dialogue to shape a more inclusive digital financial future and to address the following questions: How do financial technologies improve access to capital for female entrepreneurs in Africa? And how can German companies, well beyond the fintech sector, contribute meaningfully to the digital infrastructure that makes this possible?

Opening of AI hub in Ghana, AI Made in Ghana

Organized by: 4th IR

The session will begin by introducing AI Hub Ghana's mission to connect Ghana's rapidly growing AI ecosystem with opportunities across Europe. This will be followed by a live showcase of innovative Ghanaian AI solutions, demonstrating the country's emerging talent and practical applications of AI across sectors. The event will culminate in a high-level panel discussion featuring representatives from academia, ecosystem players, European companies, and government institutions, who will discuss opportunities for AI partnerships, talent development, responsible, and pathways for strengthening Ghana-Europe collaboration. The session aims to inspire partnerships, investment, and collective action to accelerate Ghana's AI-driven future.

Urban Challenges as Business Opportunities: Building Sustainable African Cities

Organized by: German Africa Foundation

Africa’s rapidly growing cities are creating an urgent need for sustainable urban infrastructure, effective waste management and innovative approaches to resource use. At the same time, urban transformation is opening up new markets for technologies, services and business models. Drawing on Freetown’s experience with sustainable urban development and practical city-level solutions, the discussion will explore how African cities and businesses are addressing urban challenges and how German companies can engage with these opportunities through technology, expertise and investment. Join the conversation on how to turn urban challenges into commercially viable opportunities and build partnerships that foster sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban development across Africa.

Quality Infrastructure for Your Business

Organized by: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)

Ghana Investment Promotion Agency – Invest in Ghana

Organized by: GIPA Ghana Investment Promotion Agency

Bridging the Continents: Fostering Industry Collaboration and Climate-smart Innovation for e-commerce in the mobility & logistics sector

Organized by: GIZ - Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative (PeCI)

Logistics for Sustainable Industrialization and Skilled Workforce Development

Organized by: Kwame Nkruma University of Science (KNUST) and Technical University Berlin

Africa's industrial ambitions will rise or fall on the strength of its logistics systems. This side event brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and academics to examine how logistics can be harnessed as a strategic driver of sustainable industrialization and the development of a skilled workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using Ghana as a case study, participants will explore the infrastructure gaps, institutional barriers, and success factors that shape logistics performance across key sectors — with particular attention to the automotive and raw materials value chains, as well as the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The session will also spotlight a pioneering Germany–Ghana academic collaboration through the ASONG initiative, demonstrating how university-industry partnerships can serve as a direct pipeline for developing the logistics talent that industry urgently needs.

Driving AfCFTA Forward: Establishing the Digital Autobahn for African Free Trade

Organized by: Friedrich Naumann Foundation and Federations of German Industries BDI

Convened over lunch, this high level round-table discussion will explore how digital solutions can help turn the African Continental Free Trade Area’s ambition into practical reality. While tariff reduction is essential, non-tariff barriers, fragmented digital infrastructure, costly payment systems and slow border procedures continue to constrain intra-African trade. The conversation will examine the role of broadband connectivity, digital payments, electronic certificates of origin, interoperable data systems, and trusted rules for data protection, consumer rights and cybersecurity. It will also consider how German companies and their African partners can contribute through data-driven technologies, cloud infrastructure and logistics expertise. The round table is held in an intimate setting and places are limited. We therefore kindly ask participants to register in advance; access will be confirmed individually following registration.

Chamber Partnerships

Organized by: IHK Chemnitz, IHK Giessen-Friedberg and Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA)

Start Up Germany

Organized by: Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI)

From Intent to Investment: Navigating Legal Frameworks and Dispute Resolution in African Markets: Launch of the African Investment Law and Dispute Resolution Hub

Organized by: GIZ - Regional Project: “Promotion of Rule of Law and Judiciary in Africa”

Circular Economy Roundtable

Organized by: Ghana Plastic Recycler Association

Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Side Event

Organized by: Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Overcoming Africa’s Risk Premium? The Role of the African Credit Rating Agency

Organized by: Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Regional Programme Economy Africa

The African Union’s initiative for an African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) is expected to deliver first ratings this year. The hope: fairer treatment for African borrowers, who many argue are rated more harshly than their fundamentals justify by the "Big Three" (S&P, Moody's, and Fitch). Though AfCRA has been framed as an opportunity to reset this perceived Africa risk premium through a more grounded presence on the continent, critics have raised doubts over its independence, the appetite of investors for new ratings and the empirical grounds for alleged bias. Any impact of a new agency on financing conditions must also be considered in relation to wider factors, such as increased fiscal transparency and sustainable growth. This panel discussion will shed light on the new agency, based in Mauritius, its modus of operations and will assess the potential impact of an African credit rating agency on reducing borrowing costs and lowering barriers to financing for African countries.

Talent for Tech

Organized by: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)

“Talent for Tech” will bring German employers together with African universities, technical institutions, policymakers and development partners across technology areas relevant to Germany’s High-Tech Agenda and Africa’s industrial ambitions. Beginning with real employer demand along the key technologies of Germany’s High-Tech Agenda such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, climate-neutral energy, mobility and advanced manufacturing as well as biotechnology, this workshop will examine how existing talent and training capabilities align with industry requirements; and where important gaps remain. Participants will identify institutional capacity needs, and practical pathways from education and training into employment. The working session will conclude with concrete actions, prospective partners and opportunities for continued collaboration. Its objective is to move German-African skills cooperation beyond dialogue by creating practical talent pipelines and employer-led training partnerships.