The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) is intensifying its efforts to attract more strategic investment to the Western Region, with a renewed focus on agro-processing, manufacturing, and commercial agriculture.

This forms part of a broader agenda under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP), which aims to enhance economic performance and decentralise investment promotion across the country.

Speaking to the media after officially handing over a Mitsubishi L200 pickup vehicle to the GIPC regional office in Takoradi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, Mr. Simon Madjie, highlighted the region’s enormous investment potential.

“The Western Region is unique; it constitutes nearly 10% of Ghana’s landmass, boasts over 17 agricultural districts, and is rich in natural resources like gold, cocoa, and emerging minerals. We see this region as a future hub for commercial agriculture and agro-industrial growth,” Mr. Madjie stated.

He explained that GIPC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, now renamed the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, is working to channel investments into sectors that will drive long-term economic transformation. “We have seen some investment in oil, but we want more in agriculture and manufacturing to create jobs and add value to our raw materials,” he added.



As part of the decentralisation agenda, Mr. Madjie disclosed that the GIPC is partnering with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and other key agencies to host a Regional Investment Forum. This initiative is designed to market investment opportunities across the Western, Western North, and Central regions and help regional and district authorities develop compelling investment pitches.

“Investors will come when the environment is right, but we must also focus on our attitude towards work. It is not enough to have skills—we must match them with commitment, discipline, and a strong value system. This is key to attracting and sustaining investment,” he emphasized.

On improving internal processes, Mr. Madjie revealed significant reforms aimed at enhancing investor service delivery. “We’ve streamlined our operations—GIPC registration, renewals, and immigration quotas can now be processed within 24 hours. Technology transfer registration, which used to take two and a half years, has been reduced to just four weeks for new applications and eight weeks for renewals,” he announced.

The GIPC boss also commended the progress made under the GETP, revealing that over $100 million in investment has already been attracted to the non-oil sector, with the target set at $200 million. He noted that such investments will only yield results if matched with a productive, accountable, and service-oriented workforce.

“We believe in the 24-hour economy vision, and we are working to align our systems to support it—with speed, accuracy, and reduced bureaucracy,” he concluded.

The donation of the vehicle to the GIPC Takoradi office is expected to enhance field operations, coordination, and outreach in the region as part of the retooling and decentralisation effort.

Mr. Madjie’s comments come at a time when Ghana is aggressively seeking to diversify its economy and position the regions as engines of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.