President John Dramani Mahama has announced a far-reaching reform to Ghana’s investment laws, indicating that his government will scrap minimum capital requirements for foreign investors under a revised Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act.
The President, who was speaking at the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum during TICAD-9 in Yokohama, Japan, said the amendment is designed to make Ghana a more open and competitive investment destination by easing entry barriers.
In the new review of the GIPC Act, President Mahama indicated that his administration is removing the minimum capital requirement. This means any investor, whether you have $100,000 or $50,000, can set up a business in Ghana.
Currently, foreign investors are required to contribute significant equity before establishing operations, with even higher thresholds for wholly foreign-owned or trading companies.
The reform will now pave the way for small and medium-scale investors to enter Ghana’s market, broadening participation beyond large multinationals.
“In the reviewed Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, we’re removing those minimum capital investments. This will enable any investor, however little money you have, 100,000 dollars, 50,000 dollars, to be able to come in and set up a business in Ghana,” the President remarked.
The move comes as Ghana deepens trade and investment ties with Japan. President Mahama revealed that over $152 million worth of Japanese investment has already flowed into Ghana in recent decades, with major firms like Toyota and Honda assembling vehicles locally for domestic and regional markets.
He stressed that the GIPC review is part of a broader investment strategy, alongside the government’s 24-hour economy policy and a $10 billion infrastructure drive to boost industrialisation, agro-processing, and export competitiveness.
By dismantling restrictive thresholds, Ghana is betting that a more inclusive investment climate will unlock fresh capital, stimulate entrepreneurship, and position the country as one of Africa’s most accessible and dynamic economies.
