On Saturday, 28 November 2026, the Cedi Conference Centre at the University of Ghana, Legon, will become a meeting point for two dynamic regions as GJTI Expo 2026 brings Ghana, Japan, Africa, and Asia under one roof.

More than a business event, it promises a day of fresh ideas, new partnerships and conversations that could shape the next chapter of international trade.

A Bridge Between Two Continents

Organised by the Ghana–Japan Trade & Investment Chamber, the expo carries the theme “Connecting Africa and Asia Through Trade, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships.”

It reflects a growing relationship built on investment, manufacturing, technology and skills development, while creating space for entrepreneurs, established companies and young professionals to meet beyond boardrooms and formal meetings.

A Day Filled With Opportunities

From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., visitors can explore exhibitions featuring manufacturers, technology innovators, agribusinesses, renewable energy companies and consumer brands.

B2B networking sessions, investment presentations and export-focused discussions will bring together government officials, diplomats and business leaders, creating an atmosphere where ideas can quickly become collaborations.

The experience extends beyond trade. International visitors will witness Ghana’s reputation as a welcoming business destination, while locals can connect with companies from Japan and other international markets without leaving Accra.

The gathering also offers students and startups a rare chance to meet industry leaders and learn about careers in global commerce.

Why It’s Worth Attending

Whether you’re a tourist curious about Ghana’s growing role in international business or a local entrepreneur seeking fresh opportunities, GJTI Expo 2026 offers a window into the country’s ambitions on the global stage.

Business cards may exchange hands, but so will stories, ideas and cultural connections that remind visitors that successful partnerships often begin with a conversation.

The loudest cheers in Ghana this September may not come from a football stadium. They could rise from a room filled with founders, mentors and dreamers as the JLMCF Ghana Chapter Final Pitch Competition 2026 brings the country’s brightest young entrepreneurs together for a day where bold ideas compete for real funding.

Scheduled for Friday, September 25, the event is the grand finale of the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship – Ghana Chapter, an eight-month programme that helps students and recent graduates transform promising concepts into viable businesses.

While the fellowship follows the same curriculum as the wider Pan-African programme, Ghana’s chapter stands out by adding in-person activities and local support that reflect the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.

The journey has already been competitive. Around 300 entrepreneurs began in the Explore phase before the field narrowed to 22 ventures in the Launch phase.

Now, only the top 10 will step onto the podium to pitch for funding that could shape the next chapter of their businesses.

Visitors can expect more than polished presentations. The day opens with breakfast and workshops before the afternoon pitches, creating opportunities to exchange ideas with founders, investors and mentors.

The atmosphere blends the energy of a business festival with the warmth of Ghanaian hospitality, where conversations over coffee can spark future partnerships.

For international visitors, the competition offers a window into Ghana’s growing innovation scene and the ambition driving a new generation of African entrepreneurs.

For locals, it is a chance to witness home-grown talent tackling real-world challenges with creativity and confidence.

Powered by the Dunin Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen’s University, Mastercard Foundation, and Queen’s University, this event celebrates more than entrepreneurship.

It celebrates possibility—and invites everyone to witness the ideas that could help shape Ghana’s future.

The first drumbeat arrives after weeks of waiting.

For two weeks before Ohumkan, the streets of Kibi and neighbouring Akyem communities fall into an unusual calm. Drumming stops. Dancing pauses. Even loud celebrations are set aside. Then, on Tuesday in June or July, the silence breaks.

The rhythm of traditional drums returns, chiefs emerge in colourful kente, and a celebration that honours both history and harvest fills the air.

Known as the first Ohum festival, Ohumkan marks the anniversary of the Akyem Nation while giving thanks for a successful harvest. It is one of the Eastern Region’s most cherished traditions, connecting generations through customs that have endured for centuries.

The festival centres on Kibi, the traditional capital of Akyem Abuakwa, but its spirit extends to surrounding villages where families gather, visitors return home, and public spaces come alive with music and ceremony.

The days of celebration feature grand processions of chiefs carried in palanquins beneath richly decorated umbrellas. Their arrival is greeted by the sound of talking drums, horn blowers and enthusiastic crowds dressed in vibrant cloth.

Elders perform customary rites that honour ancestors and reaffirm the community’s bond with its land, while prayers of thanksgiving recognise the blessings of the farming season.

The contrast between the quiet weeks beforehand and the joyful release of the festival gives Ohumkan its emotional power. The period of restraint encourages reflection, making the celebration feel earned rather than routine.

Today, Ohumkan remains more than a cultural spectacle. It strengthens family ties as relatives return home, provides a stage for local artisans and performers, and reminds younger generations that tradition is something to be lived, not simply remembered.

For travellers exploring Ghana’s heritage, witnessing Ohumkan offers something rare: the chance to experience a festival where silence itself becomes part of the celebration, and every returning drumbeat tells the story of a people proud of their past and hopeful for the seasons ahead.