President John Mahama has urged Japanese companies to grab Ghana’s strategic place as a gateway to Africa and make the most of a continental market of 1.4 billion folks.
He described Ghana as “a steady, democratic, business-friendly gateway to West Africa and the continent,” with a rising shopper market, enhancing macroeconomic fundamentals, and clear reforms to scale back the price of doing enterprise.
The President was talking on the Ghana Presidential Funding Discussion board on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo Worldwide Convention on African Growth (TICAD IX) in Japan on Wednesday.
He pointed to Ghana’s strategic geographical location and its standing because the host of the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA) Secretariat, which allows duty-free, tariff-free commerce throughout virtually 50 African nations.
“The sub-regional market, which is West Africa, is 400 million folks. Ghana is 33 million folks. And the continental market is 1.4 billion folks. With the car of the African continental free commerce space, you probably can export into 1.4 billion markets,” he stated.
President Mahama underscored Ghana’s progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, noting that inflation, which peaked at virtually 23 per cent in 2024, had dropped to 13.7 per cent and was projected to fall into single digits by the tip of the yr.
He added that the Ghanaian cedi had stabilised, describing it as “the perfect performing forex on this planet this yr,” with the nation’s credit standing upgraded from junk standing to B minus with a steady outlook.
On funding reforms, he introduced that Ghana was revising its Funding Promotion Centre Act to take away minimal capital necessities for international buyers, making it simpler for companies of all sizes to determine operations within the nation.
“This may allow any investor, nonetheless little cash you will have, $100,000, $50,000, to have the ability to are available and arrange a enterprise in Ghana,” he defined.
The President additionally highlighted alternatives for Japanese companies in sectors resembling vehicle meeting, agribusiness, agro-processing, vitality, manufacturing, and digital innovation.
He famous that international manufacturers like Toyota and Honda have been already assembling in Ghana, with potential for enlargement into each native and regional markets.
Relating Ghana’s comparative benefit in agriculture, Mr. Mahama outlined plans for the Volta Financial Hall, which might leverage huge arable lands and the Volta Lake to carry hundreds of thousands of hectares beneath irrigation whereas internet hosting industrial parks for agro-processing and textile manufacturing.
He additionally emphasised Ghana’s energy in vitality manufacturing, citing hydro, thermal, and gas-to-power investments, alongside the nation’s integration into the West African Energy Pool, which permits surplus energy exports to neighbouring nations.
On infrastructure, Mr. Mahama pointed to Ghana’s fashionable ports in Tema and Takoradi, significantly the lately constructed MPS Port in Tema, which he described as “top-of-the-line performing ports in Africa,” able to internet hosting the world’s largest cargo ships.
He additional highlighted the alternatives in Ghana’s fast-growing digital economic system, pushed by a younger, English-speaking workforce and a vibrant fintech sector.
To facilitate funding, he assured Japanese companies of expedited processes on the Ghana Funding Promotion Centre (GIPC), promising approvals and registrations inside 24 hours.
President Mahama confused that Ghana provided a safe funding setting, with choices for public-private partnerships, blended finance, and joint ventures with native companies.
“Your small business might be protected and won’t be expropriated,” he assured.
Encouraging Japanese buyers to look to Ghana as their hub for Africa, he stated: “Africa is the following frontier for funding. Most components of the world are saturated relating to funding.
“Africa is opening up, is rising, and is a spot that Japan ought to be . Allow us to marry Japanese precision with Ghanaian potential and create a win-win state of affairs for ourselves.”
The President concluded by reiterating that “Ghana is open for enterprise 24 hours a day” and outlined his $10 billion “Massive Push” programme, which is able to concentrate on infrastructure, agro-processing, industrial progress, and the nation’s new 24-hour economic system coverage aimed toward boosting productiveness and exports.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially signify the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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