Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare has called on local businesses to formalise collaboration and deepen value addition as part of efforts to accelerate industrial growth and job creation.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Kwahu Business Advocacy Association, the minister said structured private sector organisation is essential to reducing bottlenecks, influencing policy and building sustainable enterprises.
“We are choosing to climb, but we want to climb in a new way together, organised and institutional,” she stated, urging the newly formed association to become a credible and results-driven voice for enterprise.
Ofosu-Adjare said businesses grow faster when they coordinate, share experiences and advocate collectively on regulatory and operational challenges. Associations, she said, provide the leadership and institutional framework needed to push for reforms that lower costs and shorten approval timelines. She reiterated the ministry’s mandate to create an enabling environment for enterprises, adding that public systems must not become barriers to expansion.
The minister highlighted a renewed focus on agribusiness, stressing that Ghana must process more of its raw materials locally to maximise value and strengthen economic resilience. She referenced the recently assented 24-Hour Economy Authority Act as a policy tool to expand production, logistics and storage beyond traditional working hours, particularly in agro-processing and trade. Acknowledging constraints such as limited access to affordable long-term financing and inconsistent raw material supply, Ofosu-Adjare said the ministry is implementing a “Feed-the-Industry” programme to link primary production with processing and build reliable supply chains.
She encouraged private investment in contract farming, agro-processing, packaging, warehousing and distribution, and assured businesses of support in accessing standards certification and market opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.In his acceptance speech, Board of Trustees President Kwabena Adjare Danquah described the association’s launch as a turning point for Kwahu entrepreneurs.
“Our broader objective is straightforward job creation, enterprise expansion, true partnership and long-term prosperity through disciplined organisation,” he stated.
Danquah outlined four focus areas for the association: advocacy, membership value, innovation and business development. He said the body would engage government, regulators, financial institutions and development partners with clarity and responsibility, while complementing existing institutions and traditional authorities.Chief of Staff Julius Debrah led the unveiling of the association at the event, which drew industry leaders and senior government officials.
Chairperson of the event, Prof. Oduro Owusu, Vice Chancellor of the Presbyterian University, pointed to Japan’s post-war industrialisation as an example of how organised advocacy and integrity can drive transformation. He warned that ethical lapses undermine enterprise growth. “No matter how much you invest in your business, if you are working with dishonest people, you will struggle,” he cautioned.
Prof. Owusu proposed establishing an industrial park to serve as a business innovation and incubation hub, integrating skills development with character formation to support long-term sustainability. The formation of the association reflects broader efforts by government and private sector leaders to institutionalise business advocacy as Ghana seeks to shift from raw commodity exports toward value-added industrial growth.
