Robust IP ecosystem key to national development — Solicitor-General
The Solicitor-General, Mrs. Helen Akpene Awo Ziwu, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening a robust intellectual property (IP) ecosystem to drive national development and economic transformation. She noted that in today’s knowledge-driven global economy, IP has become indispensable for competitiveness, adding that African governments increasingly recognise innovation as the engine of long-term growth.
Mrs. Ziwu stressed that the country was prioritising reforms that align IP governance with national development strategies, positioning Ghana to fully benefit from emerging opportunities in the digital and creative economies. Speaking at the opening of the 20th Session of the Council of Ministers of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) in Accra on Friday, she underscored the continent’s growing appreciation of IP as a bridge between creativity and commerce.
The Solicitor-General said Africa stood at a pivotal moment where innovation, youth-driven energy, and digital transformation were converging to shape a new economic trajectory. To take full advantage of this moment, she explained, many countries, including Ghana, were investing in stronger IP systems to ensure that ideas, research, and creative outputs translate into tangible economic gains.
Mrs. Ziwu highlighted key national interventions such as the 24-hour economy strategy and the One Million Coders initiative, intended to boost productivity, enhance digital capacity, and empower the youth to compete in a rapidly evolving global market. She also noted that awareness of IP tools among policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and the public had improved significantly.
The Solicitor-General celebrated the recent registration of Kente as a geographical indication (GI), describing it as a strategic opportunity for Ghanaian weavers to sell at a premium while preserving traditional craftsmanship. She urged ARIPO member states to ratify the Arusha Protocol on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, saying it is essential for food security and the promotion of climate-resilient agriculture across the continent.
The Director-General of ARIPO, Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, applauded Ghana’s leadership in advancing Africa’s IP agenda. He reported a significant rise in patent and trademark filings across the region, increased training opportunities for IP professionals, and expanded partnerships with institutions such as WIPO, the European Patent Office, and the Japan Patent Office.
Mr. Twebaze said ARIPO was addressing the continent’s low IP filings by raising awareness, supporting SMEs, and strengthening technology and innovation support centres to help innovators transform ideas into market-ready products. He added that ARIPO would deepen support for the protection of traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and folklore, while promoting utility models to encourage grassroots innovation. He called for modernised national IP legislation and enhanced collaboration among member states to ensure that IP systems continue to serve African interests.
The Outgoing Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Tiroeaone Ntsima of Botswana, commended ARIPO’s improved operational performance, expanded membership, and financial stability. He urged the organisation to take on a stronger continental role, especially as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) establishes its IP architecture.
On her part, the Registrar-General, Mrs. Grace Issahaque, said Ghana’s chairmanship of both the Administrative Council and Council of Ministers would place the country at the heart of ARIPO’s reform agenda, enabling Ghanaian SMEs, creators, universities, and startups to leverage ARIPO systems for greater regional protection and market expansion.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
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