I am deeply honoured and energised to share life-changing news with my community, partners, and everyone who has walked this Africa–Caribbean bridge-building journey with me.

The African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Summit (ACSIS) has officially appointed me, Derrick Cobbinah, President of the Ghana Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, as Deputy Chair, effective 3 November 2025.

This is not just a title. It is a mandate to turn vision into value, conversations into capital, and diaspora passion into tangible projects that transform lives across Africa, the Caribbean, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Why this role matters now

ACSIS is no longer just an event. It is a movement.

With the full backing of the African Union, OECS, Afreximbank, Caribbean Export, and the Caricom Development Fund, we are scaling three game-changing pillars:

1. The ACSIS Deal Room – a curated, bankable pipeline of sustainability-focused projects.

2. Country Investment Missions – boots-on-the-ground delegations that close deals, not just collect business cards.

3. Diaspora Direct Investment Framework – channeling remittances and professional expertise into high-impact ventures.

This is where my 14+ years of multinational operational grind across HR, procurement, transport, customer service, and complex humanitarian supply chains become rocket fuel.

From battlefield to boardroom

Those who know my story know I spent a decade as a British Army veteran. Two tours in Afghanistan earned me the Afghanistan Service Medal and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.

What the Army drilled into me wasn’t just discipline; it was the ability to execute under fire when strategy meets sand, sweat, and sleepless nights. That same muscle memory now powers every MoU I broker, every investor I qualify, and every youth cohort I mentor.

My four non-negotiable deliverables as Deputy Chair

Starting Day One, I am laser-focused on:

💠 Mobilising a multi-million US dollar qualified pipeline into the 2026 ACSIS Deal Room – bankable projects only. No fluff.

💠 Brokering strategic MoUs with African and Caribbean chambers, Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), and private sector titans. Expect announcements soon.

💠 Driving gender and youth participation – 50%+ women and under-35 leaders in every ACSIS cohort. Representation is not a checkbox; it’s oxygen.

💠 Launching a quarterly impact dashboard so every partner – from the AU to Afreximbank – sees real-time delivery metrics. Transparency is trust.

A louder commitment to inclusive leadership

This appointment sends a clear signal: ACSIS is deliberately prioritising women and underrepresented leaders from Africa, the Caribbean, and SIDS. My first act as Deputy Chair? Double the number of female-led enterprises in the 2026 Deal Room shortlist.

If you are an investor, a founder, a chamber executive, or a young leader with fire in your belly, slide into my inbox or hit me on X @DerrickCobbinah. Let’s move.

Together, we are turning 600 years of shared history into 600 billion dollars of shared prosperity.

Welcome to the next phase. 🚀🌍

Derrick Cobbinah

Deputy Chair, African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Summit (ACSIS)

President, Ghana Jamaica Chamber of Commerce