Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has positioned import substitution as a core economic lever to ease foreign exchange pressure and lift industrial output, backing efforts to source raw materials locally while unlocking jobs across Ghana’s manufacturing value chain.
In a working visit to the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Vice President assured the Ministry of sustained support to drive local production, reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the country’s trade and industrial base.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the engagement forms part of broader consultations with key ministries to understand operational constraints and improve coordination across government, urging institutions to work together rather than in silos.
She noted the economic impact of importing raw materials that could be produced locally, pointing to initiatives to grow rubber for tyre manufacturing and revive the sugar value chain as practical steps to cut import bills, which will conserve foreign exchange and stabilise supply chains. She described the renewed emphasis on Made-in-Ghana goods as critical to resilience, efficiency and long-term competitiveness.
“If we all come on board and work together, we can build a very productive country and make a real difference,” she added.
The import substitution push is also being framed as a jobs strategy. Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said limited access to raw materials continues to leave many factories operating below capacity, constraining output and employment. She said the Ministry is addressing this through land acquisition for commercial farming, backward integration and targeted support for agro-processing to keep factories running consistently.
Ofosu-Adjare outlined reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and improving market access, including the extension of export proceeds repatriation from 60 to 120 days, deeper participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area and expanded access to international markets through trade fairs.
She disclosed that land has been secured and engagements held with farmers to support the revival of the Komenda Sugar Factory, which is expected to be operationalised in 2026. The Ministry is also advancing plans for new garment factories and agro-processing plants, projects expected to create thousands of jobs, particularly for women and young people.
“Your visit has encouraged us greatly. It tells us that our work matters and that we are being supported at the highest level. We are committed to doing even better,” the Minister said.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also pledged to prompt the Minister of Finance to expedite approval of incentives and policies needed to attract investment and scale production, a move seen as key to improving factory utilisation and sustaining job creation.
