Ghana’s industrial transformation anchored on value addition

Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has emphasized that Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda must focus on value addition as part of the government’s drive to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

She noted that Africa’s historical reliance on exporting raw commodities has constrained wealth creation on the continent, adding that Ghana is deliberately pursuing policies to boost local processing across key value chains.

Speaking at the launch of the Africa Trade Summit 2026, Ofosu-Adjare highlighted that sectors such as cocoa, cashew, shea, palm oil, coconut, and cassava are experiencing increased investment, expanded processing capacity, and stronger market linkages. These efforts reflect the government’s broader strategy to enable domestic producers to capture a larger share of value.

“The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry recognizes that industrial transformation begins with value addition. For too long, African economies have exported raw commodities only to import finished products at much higher prices. Ghana is actively changing this dynamic. In the cocoa sector, a key pillar of our economy, we are steadily increasing processing capacity so that more cocoa is transformed locally into intermediate and finished products,” she said.

She added that domestic grinders, chocolate manufacturers, and cocoa-based SMEs are expanding, supported by government policies aimed at ensuring African producers retain a greater share of the wealth from African resources. Similar initiatives are underway in cashew, shea, palm oil, coconut, and cassava value chains, where new processing facilities, improved market linkages, and enhanced quality standards are helping farmers and agribusinesses move up the value ladder.

Ofosu-Adjare also underscored the role of the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative in this transformation, providing opportunities for manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, health, and digital services to operate round-the-clock, boosting productivity.

“This initiative is a practical restructuring of our economy and an invitation to the private sector to scale operations and increase investment,” she stated, noting that it is designed to enhance national output, create jobs, and position Ghana as a continuous-production hub for regional and global markets.

On trade facilitation, the Minister highlighted recent improvements in maritime logistics, including the completion of phases one and two of the Tema Port Expansion Project, which positions the port as one of Africa’s most efficient container terminals. She added that upgrades at Takoradi Port are expected to strengthen bulk and energy-related trade.

Ofosu-Adjare stressed that industrialization depends on an efficient trade and logistics system. With Ghana hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, she highlighted the country’s commitment to deepening regional trade integration, pointing out that Ghana’s participation in guided trade has demonstrated the potential for processed goods to move competitively across African markets under AfCFTA rules.

“For investors and businesses here today, producing in Ghana provides access not only to our domestic market but also to a continental market of 1.3 billion people. This strategic advantage will be strengthened through continuous policy reforms, trade facilitation measures, and close collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat. However, none of this progress can be sustained without strong partnerships,” she noted.

Finally, Ofosu-Adjare called for stronger collaboration between government, development partners, and investors, particularly in long-term industrial financing and value chain support, emphasizing that such partnerships are crucial to sustaining manufacturing growth, building resilient supply chains, and expanding cross-border infrastructure.