The Government has renewed its call on investors to expand their operations in Ghana, citing improving macroeconomic conditions, political stability and the country’s strategic position as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said these advantages positioned Ghana as a gateway for businesses seeking to scale across West Africa and the wider African market.
She made the remarks during a working visit to the manufacturing facility of GB Foods in Tema.
Madam Ofosu-Adjare commended GB Foods for its plans to significantly increase local sourcing of raw materials from next year, describing the move as a major boost to agribusiness value chains, job creation and import substitution.
She noted that the company was transitioning into commercial farming to produce key raw materials such as tomatoes, ginger and pepper locally, with plans to source between 90 and 100 percent of its inputs from within the country.
According to the Minister, increased local sourcing would create employment opportunities for farmers, transporters and other actors along the value chain, while supporting the Government’s industrialisation agenda.
She also highlighted the company’s export activities to markets including Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, which she said were contributing to foreign exchange earnings and reinforcing Ghana’s ambition to become a regional industrial hub.
Madam Ofosu-Adjare stressed that Ghana’s stable democratic environment and improved economic fundamentals made it an attractive destination for investment, particularly under the AfCFTA framework, which enables manufacturers in Ghana to export competitively across the continent.
The Minister further pledged to engage relevant agencies to address challenges facing the company, particularly erratic water supply in the Tema area, which GB Foods said had increased its production costs due to reliance on private water suppliers.
She said ensuring reliable water supply for industry would help reduce production costs and enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian manufacturers on the export market.
For his part, the Director of Institutional Affairs and Agribusiness at GB Foods, Dr. Teddy Ngu, said the company was preparing to scale up its commercial farming operations following the success of a pilot phase.
He said GB Foods was working with the Lands Commission to secure the necessary documentation for its farms and planned to expand tomato production next year, with a long-term goal of establishing a factory capable of processing 2,000 metric tonnes daily.
Dr. Ngu added that the company aimed to cultivate about 4,000 hectares of tomatoes directly, supported by an additional 2,000 hectares managed by outgrowers producing tomatoes, ginger, onions and garlic.
