Ghana is sharpening its industrial strategy around a simple but costly reality: the country spends more than US$1.5 billion each year importing food and basic industrial inputs that can be produced locally. Under its 24H+ economic transformation agenda, government-backed agro-industrial corridors and manufacturing hubs are now being positioned as the engine to close these gaps, strengthen supply chains and reposition Ghana as a competitive exporter under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). As the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat emphasizes, “Convert interventions into bankable, investable projects.”
At the heart of the strategy is a deliberate shift from fragmented production to integrated, market-led value chains, where farming, processing, logistics and exports are planned together from the outset. Rather than expanding raw output alone, the focus is on industrial-scale processing anchored by confirmed demand and supported by irrigation, transport and energy infrastructure. As President John Dramani Mahama puts it, “The 24-Hour Economy is more than just a policy; it’s a catalyst for industrialisation, export promotion, and job creation. It’s about building an economy that works for everyone, every hour of the day.”
Rice: Central to Import Substitution
Rice sits at the centre of this import substitution push. Despite favourable agro-ecological conditions, Ghana still imports between 60 and 70% of its rice consumption, driving an annual import bill that exceeds US$1.2 billion. The Integrated Rice Corridor is designed to reverse this trend by unlocking irrigated land around the Tono Irrigation Scheme in the Upper East, the Pwalugu Dam in the North-East, and the Kpong area in the Eastern and Volta regions. These schemes enable year-round cultivation at scale, while new logistics links connect production zones directly to the Tamale Air Cargo Hub and Tema Port. The aim is not only to reduce imports but also to position Ghanaian rice competitively in regional markets as West Africa’s rice demand continues to grow.
Cassava: From Staple to Industrial Feedstock
Cassava, long one of Ghana’s most abundant crops, is being repositioned as an industrial feedstock rather than a subsistence staple. “Ghana is Africa’s third-largest cassava producer,” the Secretariat notes, “with output reaching 26.5 million metric tonnes in 2023,” yet much of this volume remains unprocessed. The Cassava Industrial Corridor, stretching through Buipe, Krachi and Dambai, is anchored by ethanol and starch/flour processing plants that target both domestic shortages and export markets. One immediate opportunity lies in replacing imports of acyclic alcohols, which cost the country US$10.72 million in 2023. Beyond that, processed cassava products such as flour and industrial starch benefit from duty-free, quota-free access to the European Union under the West Africa–EU Economic Partnership Agreement, giving Ghana a clear trade advantage if production is scaled efficiently.
Sugar: Rebuilding Local Capacity
Sugar tells a similar story of unmet domestic demand. Ghana currently imports more than US$200 million worth of sugar each year, meeting roughly 80% of national consumption from abroad. The Sugar Cane Industrial Corridor aims to rebuild local capacity through large-scale estates and processing plants that go beyond refined sugar alone. Ethanol, biofertilizer and cogeneration power are integral to the business model, allowing factories to extract maximum value from each tonne of cane. Bagasse, the fibrous by-product of sugar production, can be used to generate up to 20 megawatts of power per factory, lowering energy costs and improving project viability.
Oil Seeds: Supporting Poultry and Aquaculture
Oil seeds complete the agro-industrial picture, linking crop production directly to the fast-growing poultry and aquaculture sectors. Across ECOWAS, the poultry industry consumes around 12 million metric tonnes of maize and soy feed annually, yet Ghana produces less than 60% of its own feed requirements. The Integrated Oil Seeds Corridor connects irrigated large-scale farming areas in the north to soy oil mills and feed mills, reducing reliance on imported soymeal while supporting domestic poultry expansion. With West Africa’s poultry market projected to reach multi-billion-dollar levels by the end of the decade, securing feed supply is now seen as a strategic economic priority.
High-Value Manufacturing: Pharmaceuticals and Textiles
Alongside agriculture, Ghana is also moving to close critical gaps in higher-value manufacturing, particularly in pharmaceuticals and textiles, where global disruptions have exposed the risks of over-reliance on imports.
The Legon Pharmaceuticals Innovation Park (LEPIP) is being developed as a response to Africa’s overwhelming dependence on imported medicines and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. “Africa imports more than 95% of APIs and around 70% of finished medicines,” the Secretariat points out. Anchored around the University of Ghana, the park brings together research and development, contract manufacturing, vaccines, nutraceuticals and essential drugs, including antimalarials. This is especially significant for Ghana, which recorded more than 6.5 million malaria cases in 2023, and much of its treatment is still sourced from abroad. Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority has achieved WHO Maturity Level 3, a regulatory milestone that strengthens the country’s ability to export pharmaceuticals and attract technology transfer under AfCFTA.
Textiles and garments form the other pillar of the manufacturing push. Despite a long industrial history, Ghana imports over 150,000 tonnes of used clothing each year, highlighting strong unmet domestic demand. The Akosombo–Juapong Textile Cluster, alongside a network of regional garment parks, aims to revive spinning, weaving and garment manufacturing while reconnecting factories to cotton outgrower schemes for raw material security. The ambition is export-driven: leveraging AfCFTA and other trade arrangements to scale textile and garment exports from US$40 million to US$500 million over time. By using a government-backed SPV model to deliver pre-serviced, plug-and-play industrial parks, the initiative reduces upfront capital costs for investors by an estimated 25 to 40%, accelerating factory setup and job creation.
Investor Opportunities and Economic Impact
These hubs and corridors are helping Ghana build an economy that works from start to finish. Farms, factories, and markets are linked, creating smoother production and real opportunities for investors. Investors are being invited to play a key role in Ghana’s new industrial push. Their participation can help turn these corridors and hubs into thriving ecosystems, while the country enjoys stronger supply chains, reduced imports, and a more competitive industrial sector.
