Five top investment industries in 2026 based on gov’t budget, macroeconomic indicators, and IMF projections

By Patrick Baah ABANKWA

I welcome you to another Financial Epistle from my humble abode. In today’s write-up, I will be sharing my perspective on the Top 5 Investment Industries you can consider in 2026 and my justifications based on the Government of Ghana budget, macroeconomic indicators, and some IMF projections. This perspective is around those who want to invest in the real economy and the Ghana stock market.

1. Financial services & fintech

The Financial Services sector is poised for strong performance due to a stabilizing economic environment and supportive monetary policy. For investors who want to buy shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange, targeting listed banks will give you good returns, considering a YTD 2025 of around 88.50percent. This is likely to continue in 2026. With the policy rate coming down, banks are expected to experience improved asset quality (Lower NPL), which has a direct impact on profitability.

Investors with entrepreneurial instincts and capital can also focus on businesses that offer e-payment solutions and digital tax compliance software, which help SMEs formalize and streamline their operations in line with the new fiscal policies to be introduced by the government, aimed at expanding the tax base with digital tools.

2. Agribusiness & food processing

Agriculture is a non-oil sector that is a major contributor to GDP growth, and government policy explicitly prioritizes investments to extract value, expand its capacity, and drive export-oriented growth. For Stock investors, you can focus on Cocoa, Palm oil, and agro-processing companies listed on the stock market. Companies like Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) are direct beneficiaries. The outlook for cocoa prices remains firm/high, and the government is committed to strengthening the oil palm industry through tax measures (e.g., tax stamps on oil palm products). Investing in these companies taps directly into the value-addition and export-oriented growth strategy.

Another area you can focus on as an investor will be local processing and value-addition initiatives within the agric sector. Instead of exporting raw produce for less value, focus on Fruit Processing (juices, dried fruits of high-demand crops like pineapple, mango). Investors can equally address the high post-harvest losses by investing in modern cold storage and warehousing facilities.

3. Energy sector & renewable infrastructure

The government’s 2026 budget explicitly prioritizes the energy sector to boost industrial growth, following notable progress in renegotiating legacy arrears and power purchasing agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Stock investments in Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) & Utility Providers like TotalEnergies Ghana PLC (TOTAL) and GOIL PLC promise to come with good returns. The government’s commitment to energy sector stability, which includes quarterly tariff adjustments to better reflect costs, may improve the financial health and outlook for utility providers.

For business investors, renewable energy and energy-efficient opportunities still abound. I may not be an expert in this space, but I see great potential in the Solar and Inverters installation space as an alternative, reliable power solution for businesses and high-end residential clients who are still wary of the national grid reliability. Energy-efficient bulbs and electrical gadgets will remain good options.

4. Digital economy & services

The Services sector is projected to remain the dominant driver of economic activity in 2026, accounting for about 47percent of national output. Digitalization efforts are accelerating this. Telecommunication companies like MTN Ghana remain a powerhouse in trading volume and are a direct play on rising digital service consumption, data usage, and mobile money transactions, which continue to drive the Services sector.

The government is targeting digital service income from non-residents, which signals a huge opportunity for local digital economy businesses. Investors can also look at the government’s 24-Hour economic policy as a strong base to set up digital marketing and web development avenues to help Ghanaian SMEs and the newly formalized businesses build their digital presence.

5. Infrastructure & construction sector

Following the IMF’s programme, which necessitated the Debt restructuring step, the government has emphasized shifting from fiscal contraction to targeted, growth-enhancing capital expenditure, particularly in roads, housing, and social infrastructure. This creates a significant domestic market for construction-related businesses and listed material producers.

Companies like GHACEM will see a direct boost from increased government infrastructure spending and a revival in the private real estate market. The stabilization of the cedi in 2026 will reduce the cost of imported raw materials (clinker, steel), improve margins, and lead to better shareholder returns. This sector is a direct play on the “Buy Ghana, Build Ghana” policy.

Manufacturing alternative building materials (e.g., using stabilized earth, waste plastics) that reduce construction costs is a good investment opportunity for people who have an appetite for the construction industry. Another focus should be on localised, consistent road maintenance contracts for feeder and municipal roads, which is a constant government priority to support the Agric and Services sectors. Let’s get to work with the right investments, Ghana!!!

>>>the writer is a Chartered Banker and a Chartered Global Investment Analyst with over 9 years’ experience in mainstream banking, having worked in various capacities. He has been a qualified member of Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana with a good membership standing since the year 2013 and with CGIA as a Charter Holder since 2020. He also holds an EMBA and a BA from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Ghana, respectively. Patrick is a Financial Literacy Advocate and a Personal Financial Management Expert. Patrick has also been teaching on the topics of savings, investment, and financial independence for over 8 years and is a research fellow for ILAPI Ghana. He runs a popular financial channel on YouTube by the name ‘Patrick TV GH’ and has appeared regularly on various local and foreign media platforms. Patrick is into youth facilitation and career counselling. Follow Patrick on the various platforms for more education: Facebook: www.facebook.com/PatrickTVGh/ Instagram: @PatrickTVGH

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