Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has paid a working visit to the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry as part of ongoing engagements with key economic and social sector ministries to deepen coordination and accelerate national development.
The Vice President met with the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, her Directors, and the leadership of agencies under the Ministry, who presented a comprehensive briefing on progress made and strategic priorities.
Among the major achievements highlighted were the Accelerated Export Development Programme aimed at boosting non-traditional exports, and Ghana’s growing participation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Through the support of the Free Zones Authority, 29 Ghanaian enterprises have been assisted to register and access continental markets. Ghanaian products have also gained international exposure through global platforms, including participation at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
The Ghana Standards Authority was commended for its strong performance, having granted export approvals to 179 companies, while policy actions are being pursued to strengthen local industry. These include a proposed ban on non-ferrous scrap exports and a prohibition on the export of raw rubber, to ensure raw materials are retained to feed domestic manufacturing.
The Ministry is also advancing key policy frameworks currently under review, including the Textiles and Garments Manufacturing Policy, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy, Automotive Components Manufacturing Policy, and the Special Economic Zones Policy.
Discussions further focused on industrialisation initiatives such as the Komenda Sugar Factory. Land has been secured for sugarcane cultivation, local farmers are ready to supply, and investors have expressed readiness to support the activation of the full processing chain.
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang noted the revitalisation of the Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS) and the continued work of the Ghana Enterprises Agency in building entrepreneurial capacity. Over 6,000 starter kits have been distributed to youth and women, with structured follow-ups to ensure effective utilisation.
She was also briefed on efforts to promote “Made-in-Ghana” goods through a policy expected in 2026, alongside inter-ministerial discussions to ensure that uniforms for institutions under Education, Interior, Defence, and Lands and Natural Resources are sourced locally.
The Ministry has initiated a dedicated programme to train women in agro-processing for export markets and is undertaking broader regulatory reforms to improve the ease of doing business. Plans are also underway to construct three new factories in the Central, Bono and Eastern Regions, operationalise agro-processing facilities for poultry, yam and fish, and establish cashew processing plants in Techiman.
Commending Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare for the depth and clarity of the presentation, the Vice President praised the Ministry’s deliberate focus on women and youth in agribusiness. She stressed the importance of strong inter-ministerial linkages to create a single, integrated economic ecosystem and encouraged continued efforts to channel raw materials directly into domestic industry.
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang also urged the Ghana Standards Authority to maintain its support for efficiency and quality, and emphasised the need to rapidly expand local production capacity to meet the demands of Ghana’s young and growing population. She noted that retaining even 60 per cent of national spending within the local economy would have a transformative impact on productivity, employment and national wealth.
She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for industry, agribusiness and trade to thrive, assuring the Ministry that her doors remain open as Ghana deepens its industrial and export-led growth agenda.
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