Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Act resets investment framework

Ghana is resetting its investment framework with the enactment of the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) Act, 2026 (Act 1173). This new legislation, signed into law in July 2026, replaces the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865), aiming to modernize the country's approach to attracting and facilitating investment in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

The GIPA Act 2026 is designed to meet investor demands for predictable regulations, efficient institutions, and strong legal protection. It seeks to bolster Ghana's competitiveness as a regional investment hub by incorporating provisions for sustainable investment, technology transfer, outward foreign direct investments, and social inclusion. This move aligns Ghana's investment regime with domestic reforms, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and international best practices.

This significant milestone is part of President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, emphasizing the private sector's role in economic transformation. Building on his administration's previous efforts to modernize the investment climate, the new act strengthens Ghana's ambition to become Africa's preferred investment destination. It introduces reforms that reshape how investment is promoted, facilitated, and regulated.

A key transformation under Act 1173 is the elevation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA). This change signifies an expanded institutional mandate. Beyond traditional promotion and facilitation, GIPA is now tasked with promoting outward investment, facilitating and regulating technology transfer, coordinating policies, operating a One-Stop Shop, and administering an Investor Grievance Mechanism. GIPA will also serve as Ghana's national focal point for the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment. The Authority's governance is further strengthened through an expanded Board representing key public institutions.