Those who start a business in Ghana, must follow the laws and regulations according to Companies Code 1963 (Act 179) and under the Code, investors regardless of foreign or local can establish and register a place of business in Ghana.

• The government of Ghana has already clarified the laws in the purpose of attracting direct foreign investment requires an enabling legal environment along with encouraging foreign investments and replaced some that previously stifled it which is the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) Act, 1994 (Act 478). Right now, the investors are free to set up investment projects in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy without prior approval by the GIPC except the mining, petroleum, and free zones sectors, as well as portfolio investments under the company act in Ghana.

• Investments in the mining and petroleum sectors require approval by the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Ghana. Ghana Free Zones Board approves Free Zones (Export Processing Zones) investment and portfolio investments are handled by the Ghana Stock Exchange.

• The sectors like banking, non-banking financial institutions, insurance, fishing, securities, and real estate are regulated by sector-specific laws and the most important thing is the government has realized that foreign investors are required to satisfy not only the provisions of the investment act but also the provisions of sector-specific laws in Ghana.

Stakeholders

• Ministry of Trade and Industry

The Ministry of Trade & Industry is the lead policy advisor to the government on trade, industrial and private sector development with responsibility for the formulation and implementation of policies for the promotion, growth and development of domestic and international trade and industry. The Ministry is also the advocate for the private sector within government and is the principal agency responsible for monitoring and implementing the Government’s private sector development programmes and activities. The Ministry also ensures that Ghana derives maximum benefit from international trade relations and that domestic trade is conducted in a smooth and orderly manner. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the Ministry to strengthen trade relations with all friendly countries on a most favoured nation basis consistent with Ghana’s membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Special attention continues to be focused on the diversification of markets and the commodity export base by promoting the development of non-traditional exports industries with the view to developing an export-led economy. In industry, the Ministry’s policy thrust continues primarily to be the development of a more competitive industrial sub-sector with potential to make in-roads into the international market with value added local products derived from local resources.

For more information visit: https://moti.gov.gh/

• Registrar General

The Registrar General’s Department was established under the Ordinance 1950 during the Colonial days. It became a department of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General in 1961.

Our aim is to become a highly progressive department that efficiently serves its customers by becoming a highly strategic partner to businesses and stakeholders.

We are also mandated by the Government to ensure an efficient and effective administration of entities inter –alia the registration of businesses, industrial property, marriages, administration of estates, and public trustees, to provide customer friendly services and accurate data for national planning. Registrar General’s Department was established under the Ordinance 1950 during the Colonial days. It became a department of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General in 1961.

Our aim is to become a highly progressive department that efficiently serves its customers by becoming a highly strategic partner to businesses and stakeholders.

For more information visit: https://rgd.gov.gh/

• Free Zones Authority

The Ghana Free Zones Programme is designed to promote processing and manufacturing of goods through the establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZs), and encourage the development of commercial and service activities at sea and air-port areas.  In essence  the whole of Ghana is accessible to potential investors who have the opportunity to use the free zones as a focal point to produce goods and services for foreign markets. 

The Ghana Free Zones Authority has nine members who are appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State.  The Board is chaired by the Minister of Trade & Industry. The board’s main role is to facilitate, regulate and monitor activities in the free zones.

For more information visit: https://gfzb.gov.gh/