Some Japanese companies have expressed interest in investing in Ghana following a high-profile Presidential Investment Forum held on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9).
The forum, organised by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) under the theme “Ghana is Open for Business – Unleashing Investment Opportunities for Shared Prosperity,” served as a strategic platform to strengthen economic ties between Ghana and Japan.
President John Dramani Mahama, in a keynote address, positioned Ghana as the prime gateway for Japanese businesses seeking entry into the West African and wider African markets.
“Ghana is a stable, democratic, business-friendly gateway to West Africa,” President Mahama said.
He emphasised the country’s strategic location, macroeconomic stability, and ongoing reforms designed to significantly improve the ease of doing business.
To facilitate Japanese investment, the President announced a set of concrete commitments, including fast-track approvals for projects, readily available industrial sites, sovereign guarantees, and innovative blended financing frameworks.
He, however, called for reciprocity, urging Japanese investors to commit to local content and technology transfer agreements to build the capacity of Ghanaian workers and managers.
“My three requests are simple. Pilot with us, partner to scale, and invest in people,” President Mahama stated.
Echoing the President’s assurances, the Chief Executive Officer of the GIPC, Simon Madjie, presented a detailed investment pitch, outlining two central pillars of Ghana’s economic strategy: the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+) and the Big Push Agenda.
Mr Madjie explained that the 24H+ initiative is designed to extend business operations beyond traditional hours to boost productivity, create jobs, and enhance market access. He assured investors of accompanying financial incentives such as tax rebates, duty waivers, and export bonuses.
He further elaborated on the Big Push Agenda, a US$10 billion infrastructure plan aimed at bridging the nation’s infrastructure gap and enhancing competitiveness, with a strong focus on transport, logistics, water systems, agriculture, and energy.
The GIPC CEO detailed a wide range of incentives for investors, including corporate tax holidays for strategic sectors such as agro-processing and renewable energy, location-based tax reductions for businesses established outside Accra and Tema, and customs duty exemptions on machinery and equipment.
He also highlighted specific, ready-to-invest projects such as the Volta Economic Corridor, the Legon Pharmaceutical Innovation Park, and the Kumasi Machinery & Technology Park.
Key sectors identified for Japanese investment included automotive and electric vehicle assembly, agro-industrial parks and food processing, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, the digital economy, and tourism development.
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The presentation was widely acknowledged by participants for its clarity and strategic depth. Several Japanese firms are reported to have immediately expressed interest in initiating feasibility studies and pilot projects in Ghana, signalling renewed momentum in Ghana-Japan economic cooperation.
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Meanwhile, the ILO has highlighted the importance of job creation as a risk reduction strategy as emphasised in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development attended by His Majesty King Mswati III.
The ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development is themed Building Resilience Must Start with Decent Work.
The conference will look at why investing in decent work is the most effective way to build resilience and prevent crises, according to André Bogui, Assistant Director General and Director of the Director General’s Office, ILO.
Bogui, in a media release, stated that job creation was imperative for disaster risk reduction because across Africa lies tremendous potential, a growing youth population, a spirit of innovation and communities determined to build a better future.
“With the right support, this potential can drive inclusive growth, peace and resilience far beyond the continent,” mentioned Bogui.
He further stated that as the planet grappled with rising insecurity, climate shocks and humanitarian crises, nowhere were these converging challenges felt more acutely than in Africa, where communities stand on the front line of vulnerability.
“At the International Labour Organisation, we believe that work is not just about livelihoods. It is the foundation of resilience, peace and security. It is how communities rebuild, how displaced people regain dignity and how countries can avert the next crisis before it begins,” explained the assistant director general at ILO.
He further acknowledged that Japan had long recognised that investing in decent work was paramount for development. According to Bogui, as a global leader in disaster risk reduction and a valued ILO partner since its founding, Japan had supported investments in decent work that do more than create jobs ‘they lay the cornerstone for lasting stability,’ he said.
“When people have access to productive and quality employment, they are better able to withstand shocks, support their families and contribute to peaceful societies.
“That is why, together with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, we are bringing this message to the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development: building resilience must start with decent work,” stated Bogui.
