By: Jennifer Frimpong Wiredu and Enoch Ankomah
Ghana has renewed its call for a stronger, modernised intellectual property (IP) system as the 20th Session of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Council of Ministers opened in Accra. Delivering President John Mahama’s address, the Solicitor-General at the Office of the Attorney-General, Mrs. Helen Awo Ziwu, urged African countries to harmonise and upgrade their IP regimes to better support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), innovators, and creators across the continent.
Mrs. Ziwu said although progress has been made in IP education, technology transfer and innovation support, more robust systems are needed to help African businesses compete globally. She announced that Ghana will review its National IP Policy next year with support from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). She also encouraged deeper collaboration between ARIPO, OAPI, WIPO and national institutions to expand capacity-building initiatives, particularly for women and youth innovators.
The Solicitor-General highlighted emerging opportunities for Africa, including the promotion of geographical indications citing Ghana’s recent registration of Kente strengthening plant variety protection to boost food security, and improving frameworks for safeguarding traditional knowledge, folklore and genetic resources. She noted that Ghana is committed to strengthening its IP institutions to enhance its performance on the Global Innovation Index.
The Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO, Daren Tang emphasised Africa’s growing influence in the global creative and digital economy, saying the convergence of film, gaming, design and technology is creating a new era of African innovation. He described intellectual property as a key driver of the continent’s future economic development.
Chairperson of the ARIPO Administrative Council, Mrs Grace Issahaque, reiterated the organisation’s readiness to work with Ghana’s Registrar-General’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Office to revise the national IP strategy.
With Ghana pledging to update its IP framework, the country is positioning itself to play a leading role in shaping Africa’s innovation and creativity landscape.
