Ghana is seeking stronger cooperation with Italy to attract investment, accelerate technology transfer and support its transition to a circular economy as the West African nation pursues greener industrial growth and emissions reduction targets.
Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said stronger collaboration between the two countries would be critical to advancing sustainable industrial development, creating jobs and improving the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses.
Speaking at the opening of the Ghana-Italy Circular Economy Dialogue, Ofosu-Adjare described the two-day forum as an opportunity to convert bilateral relations into concrete economic outcomes through investment, innovation and industrial partnerships.
According to the minister, Ghana and Italy have built a strong relationship based on mutual respect and shared development goals, and this dialogue represents a new chapter in our economic cooperation.
The minister said Ghana is incorporating circular economy principles into its industrialization strategy under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, with initiatives already underway in agriculture, manufacturing, construction and textiles.
Those efforts include converting agricultural waste into bio-inputs and energy, promoting industrial symbiosis among manufacturers, increasing the use of recycled materials in construction and encouraging sustainable production practices in the fashion and textile industries.
According to Ofosu-Adjare, the measures are designed to improve productivity, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the country’s export competitiveness.
The minister also reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 64% by 2030, noting that achieving the target would require substantial investments, access to advanced technologies and supportive industrial policies.
She characterized the circular economy as a significant economic opportunity rather than simply an environmental obligation and outlined five priority areas for cooperation with Italy: technology and knowledge transfer, investment promotion, skills development, standards alignment and market access, and green financing.
Ofosu-Adjare invited Italian companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to use Ghana as a gateway to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) market, which comprises more than 340 million consumers.
She also called for closer collaboration between the Ghana Standards Authority, Italian and European certification bodies, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to support the development of green industrial zones, improve sustainability reporting and enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian exporters.
The minister further urged academic institutions, including the University of Professional Studies, Accra, to play a greater role in linking research, entrepreneurship and investment to strengthen Ghana’s emerging green industrial ecosystem.
Concluding her remarks, Ofosu-Adjare encouraged participants to move beyond policy discussions and commit to practical partnerships and investments that would accelerate the country’s industrial transformation.
Italian Ambassador to Ghana Laura Ranalli said Italy has established itself as one of Europe’s leaders in circular economy practices, particularly in waste recycling and the use of secondary raw materials.
According to Ranalli, Italy’s circular material use rate stands at 20.8%, nearly double the European Union average of 11.8%, underscoring the country’s experience in resource efficiency and sustainable production.
Ofosu-Adjare pledged the Italian government’s continued support for Ghana’s green industrial transformation agenda, highlighting opportunities for cooperation between businesses and institutions in both countries.
