Ghana is moving from industrial policy formulation to implementation, with the government targeting reliable energy, digital innovation and local value addition to expand manufacturing and strengthen exports, Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi said.
Ahi, speaking on behalf of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare at the 2026 Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition in Accra, said the government was prioritising textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, automotive components and agribusiness as part of its industrial strategy.
The summit, organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), is being held under the theme “Driving Sustainable Export-Led Industrial Growth through Energy Reliability and Digital Innovation“.
“We are shifting from policy formulation to implementation,” Ahi said, outlining initiatives including the 24-Hour Economy, Rapid Industrialization for Jobs Initiative and Feed the Industry Programme as measures intended to increase production, create jobs and improve Ghana’s export competitiveness.
The government’s push comes as investment activity has strengthened. Ghana recorded $2.62 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, up from about $652 million in 2024, according to the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority’s latest investment data. The economy also expanded 6% in real terms in 2025.
The investment figures, however, include a broader set of investment activity and are not solely a measure of new foreign capital entering the economy. The 2025 annual report said 95.4% of net FDI inflows on a balance-of-payments basis came from reinvested earnings.
Industry Seeks Policy Certainty
Private-sector manufacturers are calling for a policy environment that allows companies to make longer-term investment decisions.
AGI President Dr. Pharma Kofi Nsiah-Poku urged the government and regulators to improve policy consistency, regulatory clarity and access to industrial financing.
He also called for the summit’s discussions to result in concrete measures to address energy costs and reliability, accelerate digital transformation and strengthen Ghana’s export strategy.
The AGI has previously highlighted energy tariffs and grid reliability as important considerations for industrial competitiveness.
EU Seeks More Ghanaian Products
European Union Ambassador to Ghana Rune Skinnebach said the bloc wants to see more “Made in Ghana” products entering European markets, signalling continued interest in linking Ghanaian manufacturers with international supply chains.
The EU remains committed to supporting Ghana’s industrial ambitions and helping local businesses gain access to overseas markets, he said.
The three-day summit, running from Sept. 15 to 17, brings together government officials, manufacturers, regulators and development partners to discuss investment, innovation and export-led industrial growth.
