The Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM) has approved financing for at least three companies and signaled a broader shift in credit allocation toward import substitution and export-led industrialisation, as the country steps up efforts to reshape its trade balance and manufacturing base.
Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum, the Chief Executive Officer Sylvester Adinam Mensah said Rockmer Pharmaceuticals, Nobi farms, and Perfect Logistics have completed the bank’s credit assessment process and received internal approvals, with disbursement pending. He added that additional firms are progressing through the pipeline following last year’s engagements with participants.
The announcement came alongside a broader policy direction that positions the state-backed lender as a central instrument in Ghana’s industrial strategy, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and non-traditional exports.
At the core of the plan is a three-step production agenda: increase domestic output of goods consumed locally, expand processing of raw materials, and scale exports of processed products. The bank said the approach is intended to strengthen food security, reduce import dependence and improve foreign exchange stability.
The lender highlighted rice, poultry, garments and apparel as priority sectors for targeted financing, aligning with government agricultural and industrial programmes. It also pointed to what it described as persistent structural gaps, including limited access to finance for small and medium-sized firms, weak linkages between producers and processors, and constraints in certification and logistics.
Citing market data referenced at the forum, the bank said Ghana spends more than $1 billion annually importing rice and poultry products, a figure it described as unsustainable given domestic production potential.
The strategy also extends to non-traditional exports, including processed agricultural goods such as cashew, cocoa derivatives, mangoes, coconut products and other value-added commodities. The focus, officials said, is to move beyond raw material exports toward higher-margin processing and branded products.
Beyond financing, the bank is expanding what it calls “strategic support,” including advisory services, standards development, market access facilitation and value chain coordination. It also indicated a shift in lending criteria that places greater emphasis on production capacity and export potential rather than collateral-heavy assessments for smaller enterprises.
Looking ahead to 2030, the institution set out targets including more than a 60% increase in rice production, at least 60% self-sufficiency in poultry, a two to threefold rise in non-traditional export revenue, and the creation of over 100,000 direct jobs. It also projected a fourfold increase in foreign exchange earnings from non-traditional exports and a reduction of up to 40% in imports in selected categories.
Officials described the roadmap as part of a broader effort to position Ghana as a regional manufacturing and export hub, supported by coordinated investment and stronger public-private alignment.
The bank said the success of the strategy will depend on execution across multiple sectors, including agriculture, industry and logistics, and not solely on financial interventions.
