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The Government recognizes private
investment to be the leading stimulus for economic growth. Accordingly,
the legal framework regulating activities in the sector has been revised,
so that the granting of benefits and incentives is largely automatic.
Initial interest has been rekindled with the aid of the
Ghana Investment Promotion Center
(GIPS), and the Minerals and Mining Sector.
Ghana is a member of the Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank, which provides international
insurance coverage for investors in developing countries to reduce
non-commercial
risks.The Government has also entered into bilateral Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreements with a number of States to give further protection
to their nationals wishing to invest in Ghana.
An entrepreneur, irrespective
of nationality, can set up a business enterprise in Ghana within the
confines of existing
laws.A foreign investor may team up with a Ghanaian entrepreneur or company for
a joint venture, usually in the form of a partnership or a limited
company. However, under the Ghana Investment Promotion Center Act, 1994
(Act 478), a minimum equity capital of US$10,000 is required from any
foreign investor who intends to enter into a joint venture partnership
with a Ghanaian in any area of economic activity, except trading.
In trading, the minimum equity capital requirement is US$300,000.
The foreign shareholder is required to satisfy this minimum equity capital
either in cash transferred through Ghana's banking system or its
equivalent in the form of goods, plant and machinery, vehicles or other
tangible assets imported specially and exclusively to establish the
enterprise.
Foreigners are permitted 100-per-cent ownership of an
enterprise provided the investor satisfies section 19 (2b) of the GIPC
Act, 1994 (Act 478). Wholly foreign-owned enterprises must have a minimum
paid up capital, the equivalent of US$50,000 in all areas of economic
activity except import trading, where the minimum equity capital
requirement is US$300,000. In the case of export trading and liaison
(external) offices, there is no minimum foreign equity requirement.
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