AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A restaurant in Accra needs a Food Hygiene Permit from the Food and Drugs Authority under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), with health certificates for every worker in food preparation and serving areas; a permit from the local metropolitan or municipal assembly; and fire certification from the Ghana National Fire Service, now applied for through its AFCAS platform. A Nigerian-owned company also registers with the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority before it opens.
The licences at a glance
| Licence or registration | Issued by | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Company incorporation | Office of the Registrar of Companies | Business Registration Certificate is an FDA requirement |
| Investment registration | Ghana Investment Promotion Authority | Required before operating where any owner is non-Ghanaian; renewed yearly |
| Food Hygiene Permit | Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) | Valid one year; licensing takes up to two months |
| Assembly business operating permit | Accra Metropolitan Assembly or the relevant municipal assembly | Depends on your premises' location |
| Fire permit and certificate | Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) | Applications through AFCAS |
| Employer registration | SSNIT | As soon as you employ one worker |
The FDA Food Hygiene Permit
The FDA's guideline for licensing food service establishments (document FDA/FSMD/GL-FSE/2013/02, version 02, issued 1 October 2022) is issued under section 130 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). Its definition of a food service establishment covers any place where food is prepared, packaged, served or stored, and lists restaurants, cafés, hotels, bakeries, mobile food vans and central kitchens.
Documents for a new permit
- Application for Licensing form and Premises Location Form.
- An application letter to the Chief Executive, FDA.
- Business Registration Certificate.
- Health or food handler's test certificates for each worker in the food preparation and serving areas, covering tuberculosis, hepatitis A, typhoid and other communicable diseases.
- A floor plan of the facility.
- The licensing fee, as set in the FDA fee schedule (LI 2386, 2019).
The FDA issues the permit when the premises comply with its Code of Hygienic Practice for food service establishments. The guideline says licensing takes a maximum of two months from submission where all requirements are met. If the FDA raises issues, you have three months to fix them or must reapply, and cancelling the inspection more than twice also means reapplying.
Fire certification
The Ghana National Fire Service launched its Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCAS) in September 2026, according to the Ghana News Agency, and directed building owners and occupiers to apply through it. Under the Fire Precaution (Premises) Regulations, 2003 (L.I. 1724), a fire permit is needed before construction starts and a fire certificate on completion. Fire extinguishers and alarms must carry official GNFS tags and, once installed, a GNFS-AFCAS QR code. A kitchen with gas cylinders and open flames will be inspected closely; see fire certificates for Ghana businesses.
The assembly permit
Your metropolitan or municipal assembly issues the business operating permit for the premises. Greater Accra is divided among several assemblies, so check which one covers your exact address before you apply. SSNIT lists the assembly permit among the documents an employer must show, so you need it before staff registration is complete. See assembly operating permits.
Ownership rules
A restaurant prepares and serves food rather than reselling goods, so it is not trading in the sense of the GIPA Act's US$500,000 rule, which AELEX describes as buying and reselling goods in the same or substantially the same condition. Under the 2026 Act most non-trading activities have no minimum foreign capital, as reported. Informal retail, such as kiosks and market stalls, is reserved for Ghanaians, so a roadside chop bar in a market may be treated differently from a restaurant in a commercial building; ask GIPA if your format is borderline.
Budgeting for the licences
None of the official pages we read in October 2026 gives fee amounts for these permits, so budget by category and get current figures from each office:
- FDA licensing fee and the annual renewal fee, from the FDA fee schedule.
- Medical tests for each kitchen and serving worker, repeated for each renewal.
- Fire safety equipment bought from GNFS-licensed contractors, tagged, plus the fire permit and certificate.
- The assembly operating permit, which is renewed periodically.
- Professional help with the floor plan, if the FDA asks for changes to the layout.
The time cost matters as much as the money. With up to two months for the FDA and inspections from the fire service and the assembly, many owners pay rent for several months before opening. Negotiate a rent-free fit-out period with the landlord if you can, and do not hire the full team until the inspection dates are fixed.
Order of steps
- Incorporate and register with GIPA.
- Secure premises and get the GNFS fire permit before any fit-out.
- Apply for the assembly operating permit.
- Get health certificates for every kitchen and serving worker.
- Apply for the FDA Food Hygiene Permit with floor plan and documents; allow up to two months.
- Register with SSNIT and GRA for PAYE before your first payday.
Where Pryme fits
Ingredients such as Nigerian spices and stockfish often come from suppliers in Nigeria. A Pryme Business Account holds naira, dollars, pounds and euros with account details for each, and bulk payouts can pay several suppliers in one approved run.
Questions people ask
How do I get an FDA permit for a restaurant in Ghana?
Submit the FDA licensing and premises location forms, a letter, business registration, staff health certificates, a floor plan and the fee. Licensing takes up to two months where all is in order.
How long is an FDA Food Hygiene Permit valid in Ghana?
One year. The FDA asks for renewal three months before expiry.
Do restaurant staff in Ghana need medical certificates?
Yes. The FDA requires health or food handler's test certificates for each worker in food preparation and serving areas.
Can a Nigerian own a restaurant in Accra?
A restaurant is not trading under the GIPA Act's definition, and most non-trading activities have no minimum foreign capital under the 2026 Act, as reported. Register with GIPA before opening.
Sources
- Food and Drugs Authority Ghana: Guidelines for the licensing of food service establishments (FDA/FSMD/GL-FSE/2013/02, version 02, issued 1 Oct 2022) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ghana News Agency: GNFS rolls out automated fire compliance system (2 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- SSNIT: Become an employer (employer registration, contribution rates) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (AELEX): why Ghana is set to become West Africa's most inviting market for non-trading investors (8 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Afriwise (Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah): Ghana's new Investment Promotion Authority law, key changes (30 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.