President John Dramani Mahama has announced the introduction of a pathway to Ghanaian citizenship for long-term investors, describing it as “a symbol of trust and belonging”.

The new framework will provide opportunities for permanent residency and eventual citizenship to investors who demonstrate long-term commitment to Ghana — a rare incentive across the African continent.

Addressing an audience of Chinese investors and business leaders, President Mahama outlined sweeping legislative measures aimed at lowering barriers to foreign investment and stimulating private sector growth.

Ghana is rolling out a new wave of pro-enterprise reforms designed to make the country one of Africa’s most business-friendly destinations, President John Dramani Mahama announced on Tuesday at the Presidential Investment Forum in Beijing, China.

“We are implementing pro-enterprise reforms to make Ghana one of the most business-friendly destinations in Africa,” President Mahama said.

At the heart of these reforms is a proposed Investment Promotion Authority Bill, which will eliminate minimum capital requirements for foreign and joint-venture investors — a change expected to open Ghana’s investment landscape to smaller and medium-scale investors previously constrained by capital thresholds.

President Mahama further emphasised the modernisation of Ghana’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks, assuring investors of faster, fairer, and more transparent approvals for investment projects.

“Our goal is to remove the bureaucratic bottlenecks that slow down investment decisions and to create a predictable environment where businesses can thrive,” he said.

These reforms, he added, come at a strategic time as Ghana strengthens its role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, giving investors direct access to a $3.4 trillion single market and over 400 million consumers through the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme.

Highlighting Ghana’s strong democratic credentials, President Mahama underscored political stability as a cornerstone of investor confidence.

“Above all, our democratic stability that has been uninterrupted for more than 30 years is the strongest guarantee of investor confidence,” he stated.

The Presidential Investment Forum in Beijing forms part of Ghana’s broader strategy to attract Chinese investment and technology transfer, particularly in infrastructure, manufacturing, and the digital economy.

With these reforms, Ghana aims to redefine its investment environment — signaling a new era of openness, innovation, and long-term partnership with global investors.