Sales Professionals to Power Ghana’s Industrial, Revenue Transformation
Ghana’s sales professionals are fast emerging as a strategic engine behind the country’s economic recovery, with business leaders insisting that national growth targets from the 24-hour economy to industrial expansion will rely heavily on the strength and discipline of the country’s sales workforce.
This was the central message delivered by Mr. Michael Abbiw, Convener of the National Sales Leadership Conference and Awards 2026, during the re-launch of the revamped national platform in Accra.
Speaking to business executives, corporate partners and sales leaders, he underscored that sales men and women form the commercial backbone of Ghana’s economy — the first to detect market shifts and the first to absorb pressure when companies pursue growth.
Salespeople at the Heart of Ghana’s Economic Agenda
According to the Convener, Ghana’s improving macroeconomic stability, easing inflation and renewed investor confidence will only produce real economic gains if businesses expand their customer base and generate stronger revenue.
These responsibilities, he stressed, rest directly on the shoulders of the country’s sales professionals.
He argued that Ghana’s core aspirations — the proposed 24-hour economy, manufacturing growth, SME competitiveness, expanded exports and improved public revenue — cannot materialize without a highly skilled and disciplined salesforce.
“No business can operate beyond daylight if it cannot generate the revenue or customer traction to sustain extended hours,” he said. “Factories and technology mean little if markets are not activated and customers are not acquired.”
GNCCI: Sales Must Become a Company-Wide Mindset
Mr. Kabutey Caesar, National Treasurer of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reinforced the call, warning that organisations cannot grow if they fail to empower their sales teams.
He urged management to understand, support and equip sales professionals because without that backing “the bottom line will not be met.”
According to him, sales must not be treated as a standalone department but a mindset embedded across entire organisations.
He emphasised that today’s marketplace is dynamic and constantly changing, requiring continuous coaching, new knowledge and updated skills. The Chamber will therefore encourage member companies to sponsor their sales teams to participate in the 2026 conference for renewed exposure and training.
Academia Must Align With Industry Demands
Professor George Amoako, Director of Research Innovation and Consultancy at the Ghana Communication Technology University, called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry.
He urged tertiary institutions to guide students especially those in their final year toward careers in sales.
“Everybody can sell,” he said. “Whether you studied engineering, pharmacy, business or medicine, sales is a skill you can acquire — and industry needs it.”
He added that even in the era of artificial intelligence, sales remains the engine behind technological adoption and global market growth.
“AI is powerful, but without sales it would be nothing. Look at Nvidia — its value is now five trillion. Behind that is software and sales,” he noted.
He challenged academia to research industry sales needs and shape curricula that prepare graduates for Ghana’s evolving commercial landscape. He encouraged students and professionals not to miss the conference, insisting the experience will be worth every pesewa invested.
Sales Sector Now a National Economic Platform
The National Sales Leadership Conference and Awards 2026, scheduled for June 17 to 19 at the Accra International Conference Centre, has been redesigned as a national economic platform.
The three-day event will offer practical insights from experienced practitioners, skills-focused workshops in digital selling, negotiation, leadership and pipeline management, exhibitions of sales-enablement tools and technology, and structured networking to help professionals close deals and build partnerships.
It will climax with Ghana’s first fully structured National Sales Awards, recognising twenty-nine outstanding individuals and companies demonstrating exceptional sales leadership and organisational culture.
Sales as a Catalyst for GDP Growth
Mr. Abbiw stressed that whether Ghana aims for higher GDP, stronger public revenue or private-sector expansion, salespeople remain the country’s frontline economic actors.
“Salespeople open markets, expand industries and drive the revenues that fund public services, infrastructure and national development,” he said. “Our work powers the ambitions outlined in the national budget.”
A Movement for Stronger Commercial Competence
The Convener encouraged businesses to partner with the platform to strengthen Ghana’s commercial ecosystem. Companies seeking visibility, market influence or access to emerging sales talent were urged to align with the initiative.
Describing the 2026 edition as “a movement, not an event,” he called on corporate Ghana to help elevate the standards of sales leadership nationwide.
“Together, let us drive the next phase of revenue leadership,” he said. “And together, let us shape the future of Ghana’s sales excellence.”
