Introduction
Nestled along Ghana’s eastern borders is a region brimming with untapped opportunities. The Oti Region, one of the country’s youngest, is fast emerging as a promising frontier for growth in Ghana’s investment landscape. Carved out of the Volta Region in 2019, Oti spans 11,070 square kilometres, has an estimated population of 786,142 and is home to 38,399 business establishments. Strategically positioned between the Volta Lake to the west, Togo to the east, the Northern Region to the north, and the Volta Region to the south, Oti enjoys an enviable location that connects it to key markets.
Why Oti is Your Next Investment Opportunity
The region’s economic prospects are gaining greater prominence. It offers diverse investment opportunities in various sectors that has strong potential for growth.
Large-Scale Commercial Agriculture
Oti has over 570,000 hectares of fertile land suitable for a wide range of crops. The region, projected to become a major food basket, supports the cultivation of yam, cassava, plantain, rice, maize, and cowpea, alongside cash crops such as cashew, cocoa, coffee, mango, citrus, and coconut. Favourable climatic conditions across three ecological zones – forest, transitional, and rainforest- make it ideal for mechanised agriculture, out-grower schemes, and livestock production.
The Oti and Volta rivers offer excellent potential for irrigated farming. The government has already allocated 24,200 hectares for irrigation across two districts to encourage all-year-round production and agro-processing. With this potential, Oti can feed both domestic and export markets.
Agro-Processing and Value Addition
Beyond farming, Oti offers immense potential for agro-processing industries, from cocoa and cashew processing to starch, rice milling, fruit juice extraction, and feed mills. The region’s strong raw material base offers investors the opportunity to set up processing plants close to production zones which will, in turn, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs, and support export diversification.
Tourism and Hospitality
The region’s breathtaking landscapes and biodiversity make it a hidden gem for tourism and hospitality. The Kyabobo National Park, home to Mount Dzebobo – Ghana’s second-highest mountain – offers scenic views of Lake Volta and excellent hiking opportunities. Other attractions include the Hanging Village of Shiare, Shiare waterfalls, Breast Mountains, caves with Stone Age relics, and habitable islands. The Volta Lake further supports eco-tourism, fishing, boating, and lakeside resorts.
Infrastructure to support tourism and business in the region remains underdeveloped. This creates opportunities for investors in quality hotels, lodges, restaurants, and visitor amenities.
Mining and Mineral Processing
Oti holds confirmed deposits of iron ore and nickel, which are attracting investor interest. The region could become a hub for Ghana’s iron and steel value chain, and offers opportunities in responsible mining, beneficiation, and steel manufacturing. The Voltaian Basin, which covers approximately 40% of Ghana’s land area also extends into the region and is rich in limestone, sandstones, shales, and high petroleum potential. This provides opportunities in cement and ceramic manufacturing, and mining support services, including mineral exploration services, equipment supply and maintenance, logistics, and environmental management among others.
Energy and Green Industry
Oti is also a promising destination for renewable energy investment. With long hours of sunshine, it is ideal for utility-scale solar farms. The Volta Lake and Oti River provide additional hydropower potential. Under the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme, the government is expanding electricity access through mini-grids and solar systems, with Oti identified as a priority region. The Volta River Authority is developing a 20-megawatt solar project across three districts, while a planned 500-megawatt biomass power plant aims to generate sustainable energy. Together, these initiatives make Oti a key player in Ghana’s transition to a green economy.
Carbon and Climate Projects
With 31 percent forest cover, Oti offers opportunities for carbon credit and climate projects. The region lost an estimated 2,500 hectares of forest between 2020 and 2024, equivalent to 1.5 million tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Afforestation, reforestation, and forest conservation investments could restore degraded lands, enhance biodiversity, and create income through carbon finance.
Strategic Advantages for Investors
Oti is rapidly positioning itself as a strategic trade hub. Its border with Togo provides direct access to the Economic Community of West African States and the African Continental Free Trade Area markets. The Volta Lake offers inland waterway transport possibilities, and the ongoing Eastern Corridor Road project is also transforming the region into a vital link between northern production areas and southern markets, creating opportunities in logistics, warehousing, and transport.
Investing in Oti aligns with Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme. Initiatives like the Volta Economic Corridor and Eden Volta aim to promote industrialization, agro-based development, and exports, while transforming the Volta Basin into inland transport and logistics network, and an agricultural powerhouse through agro-ecological parks and processing hubs that add value to local resources.
Strong Government Commitment and Incentives
The Government of Ghana, under H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is committed to unlocking the region’s full potential through the Big Push Project, which will deliver major infrastructure such as a new bridge over the Oti River at Dambai, and upgraded road networks.
Investors also enjoy attractive incentives. Mining companies benefit from exemptions or reductions in import duties and taxes on equipment. Cocoa farming income is exempt from corporate tax indefinitely, while agro-processing enterprises and cash crop producers enjoy a 1 percent corporate tax rate for five years. Afterward, businesses in Dambai pay 15 percent, and those outside pay 10 percent. Manufacturers in Dambai are taxed at 18.75 percent, while those elsewhere in Oti pay 12.5 percent. Exporters of non-traditional goods enjoy an 8 percent rate, and low-cost housing developers pay 1 percent for five years.
To promote these opportunities, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) organized the Oti Regional Investment Roadshow in October 2025 to showcase the region’s potential. Beyond this event, the Centre remains ready to guide and support investors in establishing and growing successful ventures in Oti.
Conclusion
With its strategic location, abundant resources, diverse economy, and strong government backing, the Oti Region presents a unique opportunity for investors to be part of Ghana’s next growth frontier. Supported by attractive incentives, ongoing infrastructure development, and access to regional and international markets, Oti is poised for sustainable, long-term growth.
Invest in Oti today. Oti is open for business.
The writer is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, a lawyer, and a seasoned professional in investment promotion and facilitation.
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