The Consulate General Of The Republic of GHANA in The United Arab Emirates (Dubai)

Trade / Investment

Trade and Investment in Ghana

Ghana, rich in agricultural resources, timber, gold and other valuable minerals, abundant with educated skilled and enterprising people, blessed with a stable form of government and dedicated to the principles of free enterprise, has long been seen as one of Africas most promising countries.

The main exports - gold, cocoa, diamonds, timber, manganese and bauxite - known as traditional items, are now increasingly supplemented by processed and semi-processed industrial and agricultural products with tourism as the third largest foreign currency earner after cocoa and gold.

The economy of the country is based on two distinct sectors:

  • A large, traditional Sector (principally agricultural and informal activities).
  • A relatively small, labour intensive industrial and service sector.

    The economy has traditionally depended on exports of primary products, with about 60 per cent of the labour force employed in agriculture. Agriculture contributes about 46 per cent to the GDP and is characterised by small-scale operations, principally staple food crops and cocoa productions. The services sector is the second largest employer (about 25 per cent of the labour force), accounting for over 40 per cent of real GDP from trade and public sector services, while the industrial sector accounts for 14 per cent of GDP and employment.

    Over the years, a series of comprehensive macroeconomic and structural adjustment reforms aimed at reversing the economic decline were undertaken. The reform programme included restructuring of institutions, diversifying the economy, balancing the national budget, liberalizing trade and currency and attracting direct private investments.

    Advantages for Relocating In Ghana
  • A stable political environment, with established democratic institutions and systems to ensure good governance.

  • Abundant, adaptable, easily trainable and cost-effective labour force.
  • Excellent sea and air connections with Europe and the USA.
  • A strategic and central location within the West Africa sub-region providing access to a total market of around 250 million people.
  • A dynamic private sector willing to collaborate with foreign partners.
  • A high degree of personal safety.

    Investment Opportunities
  • Resource-based activities in agri-business, agro-processing, i.e. fish, fruit, vegetable, wood products, minerals processing, - gold, diamond and salt, export manufacturing and tourism.
  • Real Estate Development.
  • General infrastructure: Agriculture and industrial estates, toll roads and highways, railways and ports, sea and air services.
  • Development and operation of export processing zones.

    Foreign Direct Investments in Ghana
    Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Ghana has been increasing over the past five years. At the end of 2013, Ghana was the fourth largest recipient of FDI in sub-Saharan Africa. Mining and oil exploration are the main sectors that attract most of the FDI. The United Kingdom, India, China and Lebanon are the main investing countries.

    Ghanaian authorities have exerted much effort into simplifying the complex and lengthy procedures and are offering tax incentives which have resulted in boosting FDI. Additionally, Ghana is one of the most democratic countries in Africa, and has a large and inexpensive labour force, a substantial agricultural base, numerous natural resources and stable institutions. Ghana ranked 70th out of 189 countries in the classification Doing Business 2015 issued by the World Bank.

    For more information click www.gipcghana.com