Opening an Office in Ghana: A Six-Month Timeline

In short

Six months is a realistic time to go from a decision to a working office in Ghana with registered company, bank account, licences, staff and first sales.
Weeks 1 to 3 check the market, the rules for your sector and the budget; month 1 incorporates the company, registers it with GIPA and opens the bank account.
Month 2 handles tax, VAT, SSNIT, sector licences and the office lease; months 3 and 4 hire and train the team and set up payments and systems.
Month 5 launches, and month 6 hands over to a local manager with reports and controls in place.

This timeline is how we plan a market entry for an international group: one decision, one budget and six months to a company that runs without its founders on site. Each step below links to a guide with the detail.

Weeks 1 to 3: the entry check

Is your activity open to foreign owners? Six activities are reserved for Ghanaians under the GIPA Act, 2026, and foreign-owned trading companies need USD 500,000 in cash equity. See what the GIPA Act changed.
Which sector licences apply, from which regulator, and how long they take.
A first-year budget: capital, rent, salaries, licences and fees, and a go or no-go decision.

Month 1: the company

Incorporate a company limited by shares with the Office of the Registrar of Companies: at least two directors, one ordinarily resident in Ghana, and a qualified company secretary. See how to register a company as a foreigner.
Register with the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) before you start operating. GIPA registration is renewed every year.
Open the bank account and bring in the capital. The money stays in the company's own account, under its own signatories.

Month 2: tax, licences and the office

Register with the Ghana Revenue Authority for tax and, where required, VAT. Suppliers of services must register for VAT regardless of turnover. See Ghana VAT in 2026.
Register as an employer with SSNIT.
Apply for the sector licences identified in the entry check.
Sign the office lease and fit out the office.

Months 3 and 4: the team and the systems

Hire and train the local team, with written contracts, PAYE and SSNIT from the first payroll. See hiring staff in Ghana in 2026.
Apply for work permits for any expatriate staff through GIPA and the Ghana Immigration Service, within your immigrant quota of 2 to 12 positions.
Set up accounting, invoicing and payments, including mobile money where your customers use it. See invoicing in foreign currency.
Choose suppliers and partners, checked before you sign.

Month 5: launch

First sales, the brand adapted to the local market and its languages, and the first problems found and fixed while the set-up team is still on site.

Month 6: hand-over

A local manager takes over, with monthly reports, financial controls and a compliance calendar for tax, SSNIT and GIPA renewal. The founders can then run the business from abroad, with an optional retainer for board support and checks.

Done before

Gotham's partner Carlson Capital Ltd has run this kind of set-up for international groups in several African countries. In Douala, Cameroon, in 2018, a first-year capital of USD 1 million became a working head office with licences, staff, bank and mobile-money payments and a trained local team in six months.

How we help

Gotham Consult is the local desk for registrations and introductions through formal channels, and Carlson Capital Ltd leads turnkey set-ups for large companies. See Carlson Capital, market entry or join the investor list.

Questions

How long does it take to open an office in Ghana?

About six months from decision to a working office with a registered company, bank account, licences, staff and first sales, depending on the sector licences needed.

What are the first steps for a foreign company entering Ghana?

Check whether your activity is open to foreign owners and what capital and licences apply, then incorporate with the Office of the Registrar of Companies and register with GIPA before operating.

Can a foreign company run its Ghana office without its own staff on site?

Yes, once a local manager is in place with reports, controls and a compliance calendar. Many groups keep a monthly retainer for board support and checks.

Sources

Last reviewed: 1 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.