Ghana: GIPA Act Resets National Investment Framework

Home News Arts and Culture Business Sports Opinion Research Live TV/Radio Media Elections Dark Mode Dark mode Forgot Password Create Account Receive news updates on the go. Select one or more categories News Business Sports Opinion Entertainment Breaking News I want to receive news: Daily Weekly Monthly Daily: 0.30p | Weekly: GHS 2 | Monthly: GHs 9 Features The GIPA Act: Resetting Ghanas investment framework Source : Simon Madjie, CEO, GIPA 18 August 2026 6:05am Simon Madjie Audio By Carbonatix Competition for investment has become more intense than ever. Investors today look beyond opportunities and incentives. They seek destinations with predictable regulations, efficient institutions, reliable public services and strong legal protection - complemented by robust infrastructure, a future-ready talent pool, and unwavering macroeconomic stability. Against this backdrop, the Government of Ghana enacted the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) Act, 2026 (Act 1173) to modernise its investment framework and respond to the country's evolving development priorities. Signed into law in July 2026, Act 1173 repeals and replaces the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865) with a comprehensive legal framework to promote and facilitate investment, support both local and foreign investments, and align Ghana's investment regime with domestic reforms, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and international best practice. By embedding provisions for sustainable investment, technology transfer, outward Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), and social inclusion, Act 1173 significantly strengthens investor confidence and bolsters Ghana’s competitiveness as a regional investment hub. Resetting Ghana's Investment Regime The enactment of Act 1173 is a significant milestone under President John Dramani Mahama's Reset Agenda, which places the private sector at the centre of Ghana's economic transformation. President Mahama is a reform-minded leader with a proven record of modernising Ghana's investment climate. During his first term in office, his administration oversaw the enactment of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865), which modernised Ghana's investment regime. In his second term, he has built on that legacy through the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Act, 2026 (Act 1173). The new law strengthens Ghana's ambition to become the preferred destination for investment in Africa. It introduces a number of important reforms that reshape the way investment is promoted, facilitated and regulated in Ghana. Building A Stronger Investment Institution A key highlight in Act 1173 is the transformation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) into the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA). Far beyond a mere name change, this transition reflects a significantly expanded institutional mandate and broader functions. In addition to the traditional investment promotion and facilitation, the Authority is now responsible or rather, mandated to promote outward investment, facilitate and regulate technology transfer, coordinate policies, operate the One-Stop Shop, and administer a statutory Investor Grievance Mechanism (IGM). The Authority also acts as Ghana's national focal institution for the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment. Act 1173 further strengthens the Authority’s institutional governance through an expanded Board with broader representation from key public institutions involved in investment administration. These, among other institutional reforms, are intended to improve decision-making, strengthen institutional coordination and ensure that the Authority is better equipped to rapidly respond to the evolving needs of investors. Creating a More Competitive Investment Environment The Act makes it easier to establish a business in Ghana by removing key entry barriers. Particularly, it abolishes the blanket minimum capital requirements for joint ventures (JVs) and wholly foreign owned (WF) enterprises