The Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation, has organised a five-day capacity-building workshop for its staff to strengthen their ability to promote, facilitate and retain quality investments that support Ghana’s sustainable economic development.
The workshop, held in Accra, brought together 50 staff members from key operational and technical divisions of the Authority, including Investment Promotion and Business Development, Investor Services and Exemptions, Research and International Cooperation, Monitoring and Tracking, Aftercare and Investor Grievance, Regional and Global Operations, and Marketing and Communication.
The programme was part of the German Development Cooperation’s broader commitment to strengthening Ghana’s private-sector development and investment ecosystem through capable institutions and skilled professionals. It was implemented under the Special Initiative Decent Work for a Just Transition, operating under the Invest for Jobs brand and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The training also provided a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration among officers from different departments, fostering a culture of continuous learning and institutional excellence within GIPA.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Accra on Friday, 17 July 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of GIPA, Simon Madjie, expressed confidence that the workshop had enhanced participants’ understanding of the Authority, strengthened their professional judgement and deepened their appreciation of the critical role they play in advancing Ghana’s investment promotion agenda.
He urged staff to apply the knowledge and practical skills acquired during the training to improve service delivery and strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Mr Madjie noted that the global investment landscape had become increasingly competitive, with countries now competing not only for capital but also for strategic investments that drive economic transformation.
According to him, the changing investment environment places a greater responsibility on GIPA to deliver high-quality services that enhance Ghana’s attractiveness to both existing and prospective investors.
He described the workshop as timely and necessary, stressing that it should mark the beginning of a renewed commitment to continuous learning and professional excellence rather than the end of participants’ learning journey.
“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 Authority’s performance,” he said.
Mr Madjie encouraged participants to return to their respective offices and apply the skills acquired in practical, innovative ways, while sharing the knowledge with colleagues who were unable to participate in the programme.
He further described staff in the regional offices as GIPA’s ambassadors on the ground and urged them to vigorously promote investment opportunities within their respective regions, adding that strengthening the regional offices remained one of his key priorities.
The GIPA Chief Executive Officer reminded staff that investors’ perceptions of Ghana are shaped by every interaction they have with GIPA officials, stressing that professionalism, responsiveness and commitment are essential to building investor confidence and positioning Ghana as a preferred investment destination.
He reaffirmed management’s commitment to investing in the continuous learning and professional development of staff to enable them to deliver effectively on the Authority’s expanded mandate.
Mr Madjie also expressed appreciation to the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) for supporting the training programme and thanked the facilitators for sharing their expertise and practical experience throughout the workshop.
The Head of Component for Invest for Jobs at GIZ Ghana, Simon Hochstein, commended participants for their commitment and active engagement, saying their enhanced capacities would strengthen GIPA’s ability to attract, facilitate and retain high-quality investments.
He observed that investment promotion agencies across the world must continually adapt to an increasingly competitive global economy, where countries are no longer competing solely for capital but also for technology, innovation, skills and sustainable partnerships.
Mr Hochstein said agencies such as GIPA play a critical role in identifying strategic investment opportunities, providing market intelligence and supporting investors throughout the investment lifecycle.
He described Ghana as uniquely positioned to serve as a gateway for regional and global investors, particularly as the host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), adding that unlocking this potential requires capable institutions and highly skilled professionals.
He reaffirmed the German Development Cooperation’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s private sector development through stronger institutional capacity and strategic partnerships that promote sustainable investment, create decent jobs and drive inclusive economic growth.
Mr Hochstein encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the workshop, strengthen collaboration across departments and embrace innovative approaches to investment promotion. He expressed confidence that the programme would ultimately result in improved services, stronger investor confidence and greater opportunities for Ghana’s economic transformation.
Throughout the five-day programme, participants were exposed to international best practices in investment promotion through practical case studies, interactive discussions and collaborative exercises, equipping them with modern tools to promote Ghana’s priority sectors and investment opportunities.
The workshop also promoted a whole-of-institution approach to investment generation by bringing together officers from across the Authority to strengthen collaboration in investment attraction, facilitation, investor servicing, aftercare, market intelligence, sector positioning and stakeholder engagement.
Participants were presented with certificates of participation at the end of the workshop.
