President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, assented to the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Act, 2026 (Act 1173), officially transforming the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) into the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA).

The enactment of Act 1173 marks a significant milestone in Ghana's investment promotion framework, expanding the Authority's mandate and strengthening its institutional and enforcement powers.

The Authority is now better positioned to attract, facilitate, promote and retain investment, while also supporting the outward expansion of Ghanaian enterprises into regional and global markets. The reforms are intended to reinforce investor confidence and enhance Ghana's competitiveness as a preferred investment destination.

Act 1173 repeals and replaces the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865), representing the most comprehensive reform of Ghana's investment regime in over a decade. The new legislative framework reflects extensive stakeholder consultations and aligns Ghana's investment laws with evolving global best practice.

A stronger, more investor-friendly framework

The Act introduces far-reaching reforms designed to improve the ease of doing business, strengthen investor protection and align Ghana's investment regime with regional and international standards, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Under the Act, GIPA serves as Ghana's national focal institution for implementing the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment.

Among the key reforms are the establishment of a national investment promotion authority, modernisation of Ghana's investment promotion framework, and the removal of blanket minimum capital requirements for wholly foreign-owned enterprises and joint ventures with Ghanaian partners, while a reduced threshold is retained for trading enterprises.

The Act also strengthens investor protection through a statutory Investor Grievance Mechanism, promotes sustainable investment, technology transfer and social inclusion, and requires annual renewal of registration for registered enterprises.

Other reforms include the expansion of expatriate quota thresholds, a statutory mandate for outward investment promotion, the establishment of a One-Stop-Shop, and provision for citizenship-by-investment.

A message to the international investment community

The entry into force of Act 1173 demonstrates Ghana's continued commitment to maintaining a stable, transparent and competitive investment climate. For international investors, multinational enterprises, development partners and fund managers, the new legal framework is intended to provide greater regulatory certainty, improved investor protection and more efficient administrative processes.

The reforms are also expected to reinforce Ghana's position as a strategic gateway to the African market under AfCFTA, while strengthening the country's ability to attract quality investment that supports sustainable economic growth and job creation.

Commenting on the significance of the enactment, the Chief Executive Officer of GIPA, Mr Simon Madjie, described it as a defining moment in Ghana's economic story.

"The Authority we are building today is designed to respond to investors with the speed, transparency, and consistency that global capital demands, while ensuring that the benefits of investment are shared broadly across Ghanaian communities," he said.

He added that the transition from a Centre to an Authority represents a substantial enhancement of Ghana's investment promotion capacity, enabling GIPA to provide comprehensive support to investors from initial engagement through to expansion and reinvestment.

"We are now better equipped to serve investors from first inquiry through to expansion and reinvestment, and to position Ghana as the preferred gateway to a continental market of over 1.4 billion people under AfCFTA," he said.

Implementation and transition

Following the coming into force of Act 1173, existing GIPC-registered enterprises are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new statutory requirements, including the annual registration renewal regime and other transitional arrangements. GIPA says it will continue to issue administrative guidance and implementation notices to facilitate a smooth transition under the new legal framework.

Prospective investors and stakeholders have been encouraged to monitor GIPA's official communication channels, including its website and social media handles, as well as the Business Regulatory and Reforms (BRR) Portal, for operational guidelines, notices and further information relating to the implementation of Act 1173.