Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
  1. What is the Ghana Business Code? It is a set of norms derived from the principles of the UN Global Compact, which are designed to help and guide businesses uphold acceptable standards in relation to human rights, labour standards, environment and anti-corruption. It is an initiative by the three business associations AGI, GEA and GNCCI with support of the IBP project.
  2. The GHBC is based in the understanding that to be competitive a company needs to ensure... It is intended to encourage and remind businesses to be up to their corporate social responsibilities. It is intended to get businesses operating in Ghana, to be actively involved in addressing some of the major social and environmental challenges that arise from their business operations.
  3. Who is the Ghana Business Code meant for? All businesses with at least 2 employees operating in Ghana.
  4. What does the Ghana Business Code do? Companies can be certified to the GHBC, showing their customers, employees, and other partners that they respect the basic tenets for good business practice as set out by the business community in Ghana, by respecting prescriptions for labour relations, the environment and other issues
  5. How does the Ghana Business Code work? The Ghana Business Code works only when business incorporate the code principles and prescriptions into the business operations. The Ghana Business Code certificate shows that the company is actually living out the prescriptions and principles in the GHBC.
  6. Why is the Ghana Business Code useful for Ghana? The norms contained in the codes align naturally with standards the Ghanaian society upholds. Setting out the code for businesses operating in Ghana would reduce potential conflicts between the society and business, especially operations of foreign investors, and confirm Ghana as an investment destination and the gateway to doing business in West Africa.
  7. Why did the Ghana Business Code come up? It is a response to trends in the international business world, particularly to the realism of globalization and as an opportunity to reduce the occurrences of social responsibility inadequacies among businesses operating in Ghana.
  8. What is the purpose of the Ghana Business Code? To inform and align businesses with operations in Ghana, to acceptable Ghanaian and international norms of doing business responsibly.
  9. What is the importance of the Ghana Business Code? It provides internationally acceptable means for businesses operating in Ghana to appreciate the society’s expectations with regards to their corporate social responsibility.
  10. Who owns the Ghana Business Code? The three business associations AGI, GEA and GNCCI are the owners of the code on behalf of the business community in Ghana. The business associations are supported by the IBP project.
  11. Who is behind the Ghana Business Code? The three business associations AGI, GEA and GNCCI are behind the business Code. The business associations are supported by the IBP project, which is supported by DANIDA./span>
  12. Why does it matter to subscribe to the Ghana Business Code? It serves to show that your business is on a team of good corporate players, which respect the rules that the business community have set out in the GHBC.
  13. What is the benefit of subscribing to the Ghana Business Code? Please, go to About the GHBC, to read more on this question.
  14. Is the Ghana Business Code legal? The GHBC confirms to all legal statutes in Ghana. The GHBC as such however is a voluntary Code.
  15. What is the cost of subscribing to the Ghana Business Code? There are no direct costs involved in signing on to the GHBC. If a company want to get the GHBC certificate, the cost is GHC 50 for the certification. However, the first 50 companies will receive the certificate for free.
  16. Who are the beneficiaries in any subscription to the Ghana Business Code? Your business and the society.
  17. Why is DANIDA funding in Ghana Business Code? It is part of DANIDA’s official development assistance to the government and people of Ghana.
  18. Does DANIDA have any benefit from the Ghana Business Code? No, except the satisfaction the Danish taxpayer would derive from assisting a friendly developing country.
  19. Would the Ghana Business Code increase the cost of doing business in Ghana? This is not expected and should not be the case.
  20. Is the Ghana Business Code not a scheme with a hidden agenda? No, it only seeks to encourage corporate social responsibility.
  21. What is expected of a subscriber to the Ghana Business Code? To commit to the values and principles in the Code and continuously strive to meet all the challenges it present.
  22. Which businesses have subscribed to the Ghana Business Code? As of end of 2007, nearly 50 businesses have signed on. The companies are listed in the Members category on our website