Ghana ranked 9th in prospect for investors in Africa

• Posted on April 13, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Nielsen’s second Africa Prospects Indicators (APi) report, which is based on favourable economic growth and stable inflation climate in a country, has ranked Ghana ninth in Africa.

On macro prospects ranking, which according to the research considers the economic growth performance in relation to the size of the economy, Ghana ranked fifth.

Ghana ranked seventh in business prospects while for consumer prospects and retail prospects, the ranking was ninth.

In addition to rising inflation, the cash outlay for Ghanaian consumers is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

The report aims to give a comparative view of a country’s opportunities across the continent.

Cote d’Ivoire jumped ahead of Nigeria to the top position.

Nigeria topped the list in the first quarter of 2015 while the recent research shows the largest economy in Africa plunged to fourth place.

This was primarily due to “deteriorating macro-economic indicators as a result of a slump in commodity prices, in particular oil. In addition, the consumer indicators and overall confidence levels have followed suit”, reads the report.

Despite these findings, and strained pockets, Nigerians are the most optimistic consumers in Africa, expressing optimism for job prospects and personal finances.

“Cote d’Ivoire’s position has improved based on its business outlook dimension, and it continues to rank top in terms of retail sentiment.

“Despite the fact that it comes in third position on broader macro factors, its favourable economic growth and stable inflation climate and recent elections, provide a fertile investment environment,” said Allen Burch, Managing Director at Nielsen Africa.

East Africa’s Kenya and Tanzania made notable improvements on the macro ranking, which, according to the research, considers the economic growth performance in relation to the size of the economy.

Business sentiment for Kenya remains a little more sceptical, as the ranking declines amidst slower consumer sales off-take impacting company performance.

Africa’s most advanced economy, South Africa’s peer ranking improved by two positions – it also accounts for the most consumer spend in the sub-Saharan region “and has one of the most favourably priced common item baskets”, according to the research, as well as the highest concentration of modern trade on the continent.

According to the World Bank, growth deceleration for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as a result of difficult global conditions and domestic challenges has the region slowing from 4.6 per cent in 2014 to 3.3 per cent in 2015.

“With SSA being a net exporter of primary commodities, and oil being the most important commodity traded in the region, the countries hardest hit by the slump in commodity prices are understandably SSA’s oil exporters, led by top-producers, Nigeria and Angola,” said Burch.

Business Prospects Indicator – Country Priorities for 2016

Business executives across Africa scored 26 sub-Saharan Africa markets based on their view of growth opportunities for the next 12 months. Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Kenya remain unchanged from the previous business survey and are considered ‘good’ with regard to growth prospects.

Angola, previously ranked fifth, dropped to 16th place; Nigeria replaces Angola in fifth position and South Africa soared up five positions to 14th.

-cnbcafrica