LTIF 2026: Accra to host trade and investment forum on 6–7 October

The second Loveworld Trade & Investment Forum (LTIF) will convene in Accra, Ghana from October 6th to 7th, 2026. The gathering will unite industry professionals, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and business leaders, to deliberate on Africa's trade and investment opportunities. Held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra's Ohene Konadu Auditorium, the forum's focus areas are Production, Trade, Trust, and Innovation (PTTI).

Organizers aim to address the practical obstacles African businesses face when attempting to expand beyond their home markets and compete internationally. Discussions will encompass subjects such as production capacity, capital access, market intelligence, pricing, standards, supply chains, cash flow management, and cross-border trade prerequisites.

The program will feature keynote addresses, policy dialogues, investment-centric exchanges, an exhibition, trade fair, and business-to-business (B2B) interactions. Structured B2B matchmaking sessions are also planned to facilitate the formation of commercial alliances, while some ventures will present investment proposals to potential capital providers.

Entrepreneurs and SMEs will concentrate on securing financing, enhancing production, expanding market access, adhering to standards, optimizing supply chains, and devising cross-border expansion strategies. Investors will engage with businesses to explore burgeoning opportunities, while policymakers and industry leaders will deliberate on the necessary frameworks and collaborations to bolster regional commerce.

This edition follows the inaugural LTIF, which took place in Lagos, Nigeria in November 2025, and attracted over 1,500 attendees, including more than 20 speakers. The organizers anticipate a larger West African audience for the 2026 event, expecting around 2,500 participants from Ghana and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.

Accra was selected as part of LTIF's regional expansion, considering Ghana's position as a gateway to the West African market and the city's role as host to the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). A significant component of the 2026 forum will be the Business Expansion Growth INitiative (BEGIN), a program spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce, Loveworld Kingdom.

The initiative aims to assist businesses in becoming more structured, fundable, and investment-ready, aligning with the forum's broader objective of connecting entrepreneurs with investors and fostering commercial partnerships. Stephanie Oforka, Head of Commerce at Loveworld, described the forum as a "catalytic marketplace for leaders and investors," emphasizing its mission to forge partnerships capable of transforming industries, communities, and national economies.

The organizers assert that LTIF 2026 will build upon the foundation established by the inaugural edition, emphasizing that the forum aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify opportunities, and forge commercial connections. The forum is open to entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, business executives, and other stakeholders with an interest in Africa's trade and investment landscape.