Ghana is stepping up efforts to attract Ethiopian businesses into its economy, positioning itself as a strategic launchpad into West Africa and the wider AfCFTA single market as competition for continental investment intensifies.
Speaking at the Ghana Business and Cultural Expo held at Kuriftu Resort Africa Village in Addis Ababa, Ms Afua Tekyi-Mills, Head of Marketing and Communications at GIPC, said Ghana offers investors access to a growing domestic market as well as the more than 400 million consumers within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.
The expo brought together investors, business executives, policymakers and cultural stakeholders from Ghana and Ethiopia to explore opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange.
Participating in a panel discussion on “Creating an Enabling Environment for Cross-Border Investment,” Ms Tekyi-Mills outlined the procedures Ethiopian businesses can follow to establish a presence in Ghana and benefit from the country’s investor-friendly environment.
Ghana Offers Structured Pathway for Investors
According to her, prospective investors should begin by identifying their business objectives and selecting an appropriate market entry strategy, whether through manufacturing, trading, joint ventures or export-oriented production.
She encouraged businesses to engage GIPC at the early stages of their investment planning to access relevant information and support services.
“At this stage, I would encourage investors to engage GIPC early because the Centre provides investment information, sector guidance, project profiles and advice on available incentives,” she said.
Ms Tekyi-Mills explained that after defining their business model, investors must complete registration with the Office of the Registrar of Companies before proceeding with GIPC registration for enterprises involving foreign participation.
She noted that businesses operating in regulated sectors would also be required to secure the relevant licences and approvals from sector-specific regulatory agencies.
Incentives Designed to Attract Long-Term Investment
The GIPC official highlighted several incentives available to investors under Ghana’s legal and investment framework.
She noted that eligible agro-processing companies can benefit from concessionary corporate income tax rates during their first five years of operation, while manufacturing firms located outside Accra and Tema enjoy reduced tax rates aimed at promoting industrial development across the regions.
According to her, strategic investments valued at US$50 million or more may qualify for customised incentives under Ghana’s exemptions regime.
Ms Tekyi-Mills added that Ghana provides legal protections against expropriation, guarantees for profit repatriation and access to dispute-resolution mechanisms, creating certainty for both local and foreign investors.
She said GIPC further supports investors through business facilitation services, investment advisory support, technology transfer registration, investor aftercare programmes and grievance-resolution mechanisms.
Ghana and Ethiopia Can Build Stronger Trade Links
Highlighting areas for immediate collaboration, Ms Tekyi-Mills identified agro-processing, textiles, garments, logistics and specialty food trade as sectors with significant potential for partnerships between Ghanaian and Ethiopian businesses.
She noted that Ghana has strengths in cocoa products, shea butter and processed foods, while Ethiopia possesses competitive advantages in coffee production, spices, sesame exports and garment manufacturing.
“This presents an opportunity to strengthen commercial ties between West Africa and East Africa by leveraging sectors where both countries have complementary strengths,” she said.
Expo Expected to Deepen Bilateral Business Relations
Ms Tekyi-Mills expressed confidence that the Ghana Business and Cultural Expo would foster stronger economic cooperation between Ghana and Ethiopia and create new opportunities for businesses seeking to expand across Africa under the AfCFTA framework.
She said enhanced collaboration between the two countries could help unlock new investment flows, strengthen value chains and promote intra-African trade, contributing to the continent’s broader economic integration agenda.
