China leads Ghana’s foreign direct investment with $480m
China has maintained its position as Ghana’s leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, contributing nearly 35 per cent of all new projects valued at about USD480 million.
The investments have been channelled mainly into manufacturing, agribusiness, construction, and energy, sectors viewed as key to Ghana’s industrial transformation.
According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre’s (GIPC) Half-Year Investment Report for 2025, Chinese investors accounted for the highest number of registered projects and total capital commitments between January and June.
The figures reaffirm China’s position as Ghana’s most significant external investment partner, following a steady recovery of global capital flows in the post-COVID period.
The report also identifies the United Kingdom, India, and South Africa as other major investment sources, though none matched China’s scale or sectoral reach.
At a press briefing in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the GIPC, Mr Simon Madjie, said the strong confidence shown by Chinese investors reflects Ghana’s continued attractiveness as a business destination on the continent.
“China’s strong presence in Ghana’s investment landscape reflects our deepening economic ties and the growing trust in Ghana’s policy stability. Our focus is to ensure that these investments translate into jobs, technology transfer, and sustainable industrial growth,” he stated.
Mr Madjie noted that Chinese engagement in Ghana’s economy is shifting from large, state-led infrastructure projects to private-sector-driven ventures in manufacturing, agro-processing, and renewable energy.
Among the recent initiatives are a ceramic tile production plant in the Western Region and an agro-processing facility in the Eastern Region, both fully financed by Chinese enterprises.
Together, these projects are expected to generate more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs while boosting local value addition.
Concerns remain about the long-term sustainability of Chinese-led investments, particularly with regard to technology transfer, local ownership, and environmental safeguards.
Speaking in an interview, economist Dr Patrick Asuming of the University of Ghana emphasised the need for Ghana to build stronger negotiating capacity to ensure equitable outcomes from Chinese investments.
“China’s investment footprint in Ghana is undeniable, but we must ensure that every dollar of FDI aligns with our national development strategy and promotes skills transfer. That is the only way to make the partnership mutually beneficial,” he said.
To address these concerns, the GIPC is collaborating with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ghana Standards Authority to establish new frameworks for local participation and technology collaboration within foreign-led projects.
FDI inflows into Ghana surged by 382 per cent in the first half of 2025, with Asian capital, led by China, accounting for much of the growth.
