COMMUNIQUE OF THE TWENTIETH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE AFRICAN REGIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (ARIPO) HELD IN ACCRA, GHANA, FROM 21 TO 22 NOVEMBER 2025
1. The Council of Ministers of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) held its Twentieth Session in Accra, Republic of Ghana, from 21 to 22 November 2025.
2. The Solicitor of the Republic of Ghana, Mrs. Helen Akpene Awo Ziwu, officially opened the Session on behalf of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana. In a statement read on his behalf, President Mahama emphasized the importance of Intellectual Property rights in creating a secure environment for investment in innovation on the Continent. The President also indicated that Intellectual Property is one of the indispensable mechanisms for translating knowledge into commercial assets. The President urged Member States to establish robust legal and administrative frameworks to ensure that our people derive optimal benefit from the Intellectual Property system.
3. The Council of Ministers elected new members to serve as Officers for the 2026-2027 biennium as follows:
Chairperson : Ghana
First Vice-Chairperson : Namibia
Second Vice-Chairperson : Eswatini
4. The Member States and Cooperating Partners delivered statements, commending ARIPO for its contribution to the development of the national and regional Intellectual Property systems. They highlighted the efforts that have been made by their respective Governments towards the advancement of the Intellectual Property agenda at the national level. The Delegations appreciated the Government of Ghana for hosting the 20th Session of the Council of Ministers and the 49th Session of the Administrative Council.
5. The Council of Ministers considered and took note of the following documents:
(a) The Report of the Director General on the Activities Undertaken in 2024 and 2025 under the Strategic Plan 2022-2026; and
(b) The Report of the Chairperson of the Administrative Council.
6. The Council of Ministers expressed its gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Ghana for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made for the Twentieth Session of the Council of Ministers, as well as the Forty-Ninth Session of the Administrative Council.
7. The Council of Ministers also appreciated the cooperating partners of ARIPO for their continued support and participation in the Twentieth Session of the Council of Ministers.
8. Seven Ministers and six Accredited Officials participated in the Session of the Council of Ministers. Also present were Inter-Governmental Organizations and other Cooperating Partners.
9. The Council of Ministers reaffirmed the Organization’s position concerning the establishment of an IP Office within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights. The Council emphasized that this IP Office, operating under the AfCFTA framework, should concentrate on policy coordination and offer strategic direction to foster the development of the Intellectual Property system across Africa.
10. The Council endorsed the Delegation of Namibia’s offer to host the Twenty-First Session of the Council of Ministers at a date to be communicated in due course.
[ENDS.]