Ghana becomes first African country to sign APG agreement with the USPTO

Additional Topics:

Ghana has become the first African country to enter into an Accelerated Patent Grant (APG) arrangement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), marking a significant milestone in international patent cooperation.

Under the agreement, applicants who have already obtained a corresponding US patent may request accelerated grant of their Ghanaian patent applications, enabling the Ghana Industrial Property Office (GHIPO) to rely on examinations conducted by the USPTO.

The initiative is expected to streamline patent prosecution, reduce examination backlogs, promote innovation and technology transfer, and strengthen Ghana’s position as an attractive destination for innovation-driven investment.