President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will soon introduce a citizenship by investment program as part of a broader plan to attract responsible long-term investors and deepen trade ties with China. Speaking at the Presidential Investment Forum in Beijing, Mahama confirmed that Ghana and China have reached an agreement in principle to allow Ghanaian goods tariff-free access to the Chinese market. The official signing is expected by the end of October 2025.
The new policy is part of the upcoming Investment Promotion Authority Bill, which aims to simplify Ghana’s investment framework and encourage more sustainable partnerships. Mahama said the government will remove minimum capital requirements for both foreign and joint-venture investors, making Ghana more open and competitive within the global investment space.
Ghana and China Zero Tariff Agreement Overview
In 2024, trade between Ghana and China reached approximately US$11.8 billion. Mahama noted that the zero-tariff trade deal will allow Ghanaian exporters, agro-processors, and manufacturers to gain easier access to one of the world’s largest markets, helping to reduce Ghana’s current import-heavy trade imbalance.
He described the agreement as a turning point for Ghana’s industrialization and export diversification strategy, emphasizing that the zero tariff policy is not just a diplomatic milestone but a practical tool for boosting local production and job creation.
Mahama also reaffirmed Ghana’s strong investment protections, including safeguards against discrimination, expropriation, and nationalization, along with guarantees for unrestricted repatriation of dividends in convertible currencies. Ghana, he said, remains one of Africa’s most politically stable democracies, offering investors reliability and legal clarity.
Ghana’s New Citizenship by Investment Framework
Alongside trade reforms, Mahama unveiled Ghana’s plan to introduce a citizenship by investment framework that would grant eligible long-term investors a path to Ghanaian citizenship. This initiative is designed to attract patient capital while ensuring that foreign investors make measurable contributions to Ghana’s social and economic development.
According to Mahama, the citizenship by investment plan is not intended as a shortcut for wealth-based applicants but as a partnership model built on sustained investment, job creation, and knowledge transfer. Investors who meet specific benchmarks may qualify for citizenship after demonstrating a consistent commitment to national growth.
He emphasized that the program is rooted in mutual benefit: investors will gain a sense of belonging and legal recognition in Ghana, while the country gains productive partnerships, innovation, and expanded economic capacity.
If implemented effectively, Ghana’s initiative could become one of the first structured citizenship by investment programs in West Africa tied directly to measurable economic impact rather than one-time financial contributions.
Mahama also invited investors to explore national projects such as the Big Push infrastructure program, agro-industrial parks along the Volta Economic Corridor, and the planned Green Digital City, which will span the Greater Accra, Volta, and Eastern regions.
Citizenship Potential for Investors: What Was Announced
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Long-term investors may qualify for citizenship:
President Mahama announced that investors who make meaningful and sustained contributions to Ghana’s economy could become eligible for Ghanaian citizenship. This represents the first time Ghana has openly discussed a citizenship by investment model tied to long-term economic participation. -
Investment barriers to be lowered:
The proposed Investment Promotion Authority Bill will remove the existing minimum capital requirements for both foreign and joint-venture investors. The goal is to make Ghana more attractive to a broader range of global investors while encouraging reinvestment and job creation within the country. -
Citizenship as a symbol of belonging:
Mahama described this new initiative not as a simple financial transaction but as a “symbol of trust and belonging” between Ghana and those who choose to commit their skills, resources, and time to national development. -
Commitment-based qualification:
The potential citizenship benefit will depend on an investor’s long-term presence, measurable contributions, and positive impact on Ghana’s economy rather than on short-term capital flows or speculative investments. -
Details still under development:
Although the concept has been introduced, full details—such as qualification thresholds, vetting procedures, and time requirements—are yet to be released. The coming months are expected to bring further clarification once the bill is tabled for debate.
Source: graphic.com.gh
