The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has issued a strong warning to companies operating in Ghana to comply with the mandatory registration of Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs), or face regulatory sanctions, including revocation of registration status.
Emmanuel Osei, Director of the newly established Technology Transfer Agreement Department at GIPC, emphasized during a stakeholder engagement that companies that fail to properly register TTAs especially those involving questionable fee transfers may face serious consequences.
“Improper documentation or unregistered agreements won’t be tolerated,” he cautioned.
A Technology Transfer Agreement, as defined by GIPC, is a formal arrangement between a foreign licensor and a Ghanaian business entity that governs the provision of industrial property rights, technical expertise, know-how, and managerial training. Under current regulations, these agreements must span between 18 months and 10 years, with renewals permitted for an additional five-year term.
New TTA Department to Streamline Compliance
To improve oversight and client service, GIPC has launched a dedicated Technology Transfer Agreement Division, replacing the previous system under the Legal Division. The move is intended to accelerate the review, registration, and monitoring process, in response to growing demand and investor expectations.
Osei explained that the focused team comprising lawyers and paralegals will now handle the entire TTA lifecycle, from application through to record maintenance, ensuring that companies are not only registered but are also fully aligned with sectoral regulations.
“This structural reform is designed to deliver faster turnaround times, tighter compliance, and deeper coordination with sector regulators such as the Bank of Ghana and commercial banks,” Osei noted.
Legislative Reform Underway
As part of a broader institutional revamp, GIPC is also in the process of updating the legislative framework that governs its operations. The GIPC Bill currently before Parliament proposes to rename the agency as the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) and amend several outdated provisions, including aspects of the Technology Transfer Regulations (LI 1547), which have remained unchanged since 1992.
The reforms aim to improve enforcement capacity, adapt to evolving business practices, and address long-standing compliance gaps in the management of technology and intellectual property transfer.
Osei highlighted the significance of the regulatory updates, stating that they would “ensure companies fully understand their obligations and avoid loopholes that compromise both revenue and innovation transfer.”
Strategic Focus on Innovation and Integrity
With global investment trends increasingly tied to intellectual property, digital solutions, and knowledge-based services, GIPC sees the TTAs not just as a bureaucratic requirement, but as a strategic instrument for industrial competitiveness.
The Centre is urging both foreign and local businesses to treat compliance with TTA registration not as a formality, but as a foundation for transparent, mutually beneficial partnerships.
The enhanced enforcement regime signals a new chapter for technology-based investments in Ghana, where innovation, regulatory discipline, and accountability will shape the next phase of industrial transformation.
