Ghana

The IPR of Ghana was completed in 2003. It provided the Government with policy recommendations on how to improve Ghana’s investment framework, investment promotion efforts and strategies and the overall enabling environment to attract and benefit from FDI.

In 2006, UNCTAD also prepared a Blue Book on Best Practice in Investment Promotion and Facilitation that identified 15 practical measures to be implemented over a period of 12 months intended to move Ghana towards best practice in investment promotion and facilitation.

In 2010, UNCTAD conducted a review to


assess the extent to which the IPR and blue book recommendations had been implemented. The Implementation Report showed that the political commitment to improve the business environment is reflected in its policies and programmes for reforms. Under two umbrella programmes, namely, the Private Sector Development Strategy for the period 2004 to 2008 and the Trade Sector Support Programme (TSSP) for the five-year period 2006 to 2010, cross-cutting issues that impact trade and investment are comprehensively addressed.

In addition, the Gateway Project and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME)


Project, including numerous cuts in corporate tax since 2003 to stimulate private sector growth and boost investment into Ghana, have all given impetus to private sector development.

However, while overall policies are generally well conceived, their implementation is not always consistent. Planned reforms are often delayed or curtailed and sometimes even derailed. Thus, despite on-going efforts in addressing improvements to the investment environment, investors continue to encounter obstacles.

Other reports: Blue Book of Ghana


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  • The Investment Policy Review (IPR) programme provides developing countries and countries with economies in transition concrete recommendations to improve policies, strategies and institutions for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and deriving greater benefits for sustainable development.

    The IPR process is country-specific and involves:

    1. the review of the policy, regulatory and institutional environment for investment;
    2. the identification of strategic investment priorities consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in line with the national development objectives; and
    3. a set of concrete recommendations.


    Follow-up support to foster the integration of the IPR recommendations into the country’s reform agenda and their implementation is provided as part of the review process.

    UNCTAD has undertaken IPRs in more than 50 countries since 1999 and the implementation of IPR recommendations has had significant impact in their business climate. As shown by the World Bank’s Doing Business Indicators, out of the top 10 reformers among developing countries, half were IPR countries each year between 2013 and 2015.The FDI performance by country also suggests a positive impact. Out of 32 countries for which the IPR was published more than three years ago, 29 have experienced an increase in FDI inflows in the following years. And for 19 of them, such increases have been dramatic, with FDI inflows having more than doubled.


    For further information please contact Chantal Dupasquier, Chief, Investment Policy Review Section at: Chantal.Dupasquier@unctad.org.

  • Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

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