Netherlands- Ghana Business Fair

Ghana Government Policies for doing business in Ghana and the assistance Ghana Embassy offers to entrepreneurs interested in doing business in Ghana

Political Stability

  • Politically stable since its transition to multi – party democracy since 1992.
  • Government policies and initiatives have promoted the peaceful coexistence of the zeople from diverse ethnic groups and religious affiliations

Infrastructural Development & Special Development Initiative

  • The infrastructural facilities at Ghana’s ports of entry and internal airports have been improved to facilitate movement of persons and trade.
  • The Kotoka International Airport has been upgraded by the construction of a new ultra-modern terminal which is propelling Ghana to become the aviation hub in West Africa

Infrastructural Development & Special Development Initiative

The implementation of the paperless port clearance system has improved the turnaround time of cargo and has reduced the cost of doing business at Ghana’s seaports.

1D1F Initiative

  • The flagship project: one – district –one-factory (1D1F) programme has been designed to support the private sector to establish at least one industrial enterprise in each of the 260 districts of the country to add value to their natural resource endowments. 
  • By the close of 2020, 76 other 1D1F companies were operational, and created job opportunities for over one hundred and forty thousand (140,000) people across the country. One hundred and seven (107) projects are under implementation and are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2021.

Digitalisation Programme

Since 2017, the Government has stepped up the programme of digitalisation of the various sectors of the economy with the view to making Ghana the most business – friendly country on the continent.

  • The digital property address system
  • The National Identification System (NIS) is being undertaken to create a national database
  • A cashless economy where digital payments of goods and services are taking root.

Institutional Reforms of Public Agencies

  • The Registrar General’s Department successfully
    automated
  • The justice system automated
  • More collaboration among government agencies
  • The National Entrepreneurship & Innovative Plan (NEIP) is another flagship policy initiative.

Reforms in the Financial Sector

  • The Central Bank of Ghana embarked on a banking sector clean-up, recapitalization, and other regulatory reforms from 2017 to 2018 to promote the safety, soundness, and stability of the financial system to support economic growth.
  • The recapitalisation process scaled down the number of banks
    from 33 in Dec-2016 to 23 by Dec- 2018. 
  • Banking sector credit increased from GH¢36.5 billion in December 2018 to GH¢45.2 billion in December 2019.

Taxes & Locational Incentives

  • Tax holidays range from 5 years for real estates to 10 years for the set up of rural banks, cattle ranching and tree cropping and others.
  • The Ghana Free Zones Authority also offers extensive and generous incentives to potential investors interested in developing and operating free zone enclaves.
  • Investments in the country are guaranteed by the Constitution of Ghana and other investment laws which guarantee 100% transfer profits and dividends.
  • Ghana is also a member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) which help investors to protect foreign direct investments against political and non-commercial risks in developing countries

The Role of Ghana Embassy

  •  Disseminating information on Ghana’s investment opportunities to the business
    community in the Netherlands
  • The Mission liaises with the relevant Ghanaian agencies such as GIPC, GEPC, RGD, GTA, GSA and the Ministry of Trade and Industry
  • The Mission collaborates with public and private organisations in the Netherlands to provide trade information to Ghanaian businesses in partnership with their Dutch counterparts.
  • The embassy also serves as a liaison between the Government of Ghana and the Dutch government on bilateral engagements on trade, investments and private sector development for the mutual benefits of the two countries.

Prepared by
Mayfair Adomako–Mensah, Ghana Embassy, The Hague