GIPC eyes higher FDI through enhanced investment promotion capacity

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has intensified efforts to attract more quality investments into the country by equipping its staff with modern investment promotion skills as Ghana seeks to strengthen its competitiveness in an increasingly contested global investment landscape.

The initiative formed part of a five-day Investment Promotion Workshop organised by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ under the Invest for Jobs initiative, aimed at enhancing the capacity of GIPC officers to attract, facilitate and retain investments that support sustainable economic growth.

The programme brought together 50 staff members drawn from key operational and technical departments of the Centre, including Investment Promotion and Business Development, Investor Services and Exemptions, Research and International Cooperation, Aftercare and Investor Grievance, Monitoring and Tracking, Regional and Global Operations, and Marketing and Communication.

The training focused on digital investment promotion, investment intelligence, market research, investment targeting, negotiation, investor facilitation, aftercare, and customer relationship management as GIPC transitions to a modern Customer Relationship Management (CRM)-driven virtual one-stop-shop for investor services.

Speaking at the closing ceremony in Accra on Friday, Head of Component for Invest for Jobs at GIZ Ghana, Simon Hochstein, said attracting investment in today’s global economy requires much more than promoting a country’s opportunities.

According to him, countries are now competing for technology, innovation, skills and sustainable partnerships, making it essential for investment promotion agencies to develop stronger institutional capacity and provide seamless support throughout the entire investment lifecycle.

He noted that strengthening the skills of investment promotion professionals would help build a competitive investment ecosystem capable of enhancing investor confidence and supporting Ghana’s economic transformation.

Hochstein said Ghana’s status as host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a unique opportunity to position the country as a gateway for regional and international investors, but achieving that ambition depends on capable institutions and skilled professionals.



He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training to improve investor services, strengthen collaboration across departments and embrace innovation in promoting Ghana as an investment destination.

“The true impact of this programme will be reflected in improved services, stronger investor confidence and increased opportunities for Ghana’s economic transformation,” he said.

Hochstein also expressed optimism that the strengthened capacity of GIPC staff would contribute to attracting foreign direct investment beyond Ghana’s 2025 inflow of US$2.61 billion.

Chief Executive Officer of GIPC, Simon Madjie, said the workshop had deepened participants’ understanding of the Centre’s expanded mandate while strengthening their professional judgement and appreciation of their role in promoting investment.

He urged staff to ensure that the knowledge gained translates into higher standards of service delivery, stronger engagement with investors and improved institutional performance.

“The knowledge and practical insights you have gained should be reflected in the quality of your work, the standard of your engagement with investors and stakeholders, and your contribution to strengthening the Centre’s performance,” he said.

Madjie reaffirmed management’s commitment to investing in continuous professional development to ensure staff possess the skills required to deliver on GIPC’s evolving mandate.

Both GIPC and GIZ stressed that investment promotion today requires a whole-of-institution approach, where investment attraction, facilitation, market intelligence, investor servicing, aftercare and stakeholder engagement work together to improve the investor experience and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness.

The organisers said the programme forms part of the German Development Cooperation’s broader support for Ghana’s private sector development through the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition”, implemented under the Invest for Jobs programme and funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

They noted that strengthening institutions such as GIPC is expected to play a critical role in attracting sustainable investments that create decent jobs, promote innovation and support Ghana’s long-term economic transformation.