This chapter is based on our publication 'Doing Business in Ghana - a Guide', available at our office or through Afrika-Verein in Germany. The chapter contains basic information for members of the international business community interested in investing in Ghana or trading with Ghanaian partners. However, since it is GGEA's goal to promote Ghanaian-German business, it contains some specific information for German readers.

Ghana at a glance

Modern Ghana takes its name from the ancient kingdom of Ghana, which flourished up to the eleventh century AD and was one of the great sudanic states which made its mark in African history. Ghana, formerly known as Gold Coast, was the first African colony to achieve independence from Britain, in 1957.

Investing in Ghana

Ghana's government has intensified its efforts to promote private sector development in the last few years. Under the slogan of "Creating a Golden Age of Business", the government aims at stimulating foreign investment into Ghana as well as promoting the development of local businesses.

Solely for that purpose, the government has set up the Ministry for Private Sector Development & "President's Special Initiatives" (PSI), which co-ordinates governmental efforts to promote the private sector. The PSI programme, an economic policy programme that promotes selected sub-sectors of the Ghanaian economy is regarded as being strategically important for economic development.

The divestiture of state-owned enterprises through the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) and the promotion of non-traditional exports through the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) has been continued and the Free Zones programme has been amended.

Complementing these endeavours is the government's commitment to the process of regional integration in the framework of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).