Yokohama: More than 100 Japanese companies participated in a high-level Presidential Investment Forum, organized by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), in Yokohama, Japan on Wednesday. The Forum took place alongside the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9), focusing on the theme: 'Ghana is Open for Business- Unleashing Investment Opportunities for Shared Prosperity'.
According to Ghana News Agency, the forum was organized in collaboration with Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MOTAI), and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). It served as a strategic platform to enhance economic relations between Ghana and Japan. President John Dramani Mahama presented a compelling case for Japanese firms to view Ghana as their entry point to West Africa and the broader African continent. He emphasized Ghana's stability, democratic governance, and business-friendly environment, along with ongoing reforms to improve the ease of doing business.
President Mahama announced several commitments to facilitate Japanese investment, including expedited approvals, available industrial sites, sovereign guarantees, and blended financing frameworks. He urged Japanese companies to commit to local content and technology transfer agreements to train Ghanaian workers and managers, summarizing his appeal with, 'My three requests are simple. Pilot with us, partner to scale, and invest in people.'
Simon Madjie, the CEO of GIPC, outlined Ghana's strategic advantages, such as the Big Push Agenda and the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H). Madjie emphasized Ghana's dedication to building a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive economy. He explained that the 24H+ initiative aims to extend business operations beyond traditional hours, thereby enhancing productivity, job creation, and market access. Financial incentives such as tax rebates, duty waivers, and export bonuses were assured to support businesses operating under this model when implemented.
Complementing these efforts is the Big Push Agenda, a US$10 billion infrastructure development plan focused on strategic sectors like transport, logistics, water systems, agriculture, and energy. Mr. Madjie's presentation detailed various incentives for investors, including corporate tax holidays for agro-processing, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors, location-based tax reductions for businesses outside Accra and Tema, customs duty exemptions on machinery and equipment, free zone benefits, export incentives, and guarantees against expropriation, along with full repatriation of profits.
He also highlighted strategic projects such as the Volta Economic Corridor, Legon Pharmaceutical Innovation Park, and Kumasi Machinery and Technology Park as ready investment destinations. Madjie invited Japanese investors to explore opportunities in sectors like automotive and electric vehicle assembly, agro-industrial parks and food processing, renewable energy and grid infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, digital economy and smart manufacturing, as well as tourism, arts, and heritage development.
The presentation was well-received by participants for its clarity, strategic alignment, and actionable insights. Several Japanese firms expressed interest in initiating feasibility studies and pilot projects in Ghana, indicating a renewed momentum in Ghana-Japan economic cooperation.
