Ghana is intensifying its drive to reduce reliance on imported goods by expanding local manufacturing capacity in key sectors such as rice, poultry and cement, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen economic resilience and take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking in an interview with The High Street Journal, Mr. Daniel Fahene Acquaye, Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Group, said the renewed push marks one of the country’s most ambitious import-substitution efforts in recent years, driven by rising foreign exchange pressures, increasing food import bills and the need to build competitive local industries for regional markets.
He explained that Ghana’s import dependence, especially for food staples has exposed the economy to external shocks, currency depreciation and volatile global supply chains.
The government’s shift toward local production, he noted, is therefore both an economic necessity and an opportunity to anchor industrial transformation.
Mr. Acquaye observed that rice remains one of Ghana’s most promising import-substitution commodities, given growing domestic demand and favourable agro-ecological conditions.
With annual imports exceeding US$1 billion, he said even marginal improvements in local production could save significant foreign exchange.
He noted, however, that Ghana’s rice value chain still struggles with mechanisation gaps, post-harvest losses, and inconsistent milling quality.
“The potential is huge, but competitiveness will depend on scale, efficiency and the adoption of modern technologies,” he said. Under AfCFTA, Mr. Acquaye believes Ghana can become a net exporter of premium long-grain rice if strategic investments target irrigation, large-scale aggregation and standardised processing.
On poultry, Mr. Acquaye said the sector faces the most severe competitiveness challenges, despite being a priority area for import substitution.
With feed accounting for more than 70 percent of production costs, the price of maize and soybean continues to undermine the industry’s ability to compete with cheaper frozen imports.
“There is strong local demand and the capacity to expand, but we must address feed costs and biosecurity systems. Without that, Ghana cannot produce at a price point that allows survival under AfCFTA competition,” he said.
He encouraged targeted incentives for feed processors, support for large-scale maize cultivation, and the adoption of modern hatchery and processing technologies to rebuild the sector’s competitiveness.
Of the three priority sectors, cement manufacturing currently shows the strongest competitive advantage, aided by multiple domestic plants and significant investments in clinker substitution.
Mr. Acquaye said Ghana’s cement industry is already operating at a capacity that exceeds national demand, positioning it to supply neighbouring markets under AfCFTA rules.
However, he cautioned that high electricity tariffs, port charges, and logistics costs continue to erode margins. “If we streamline the regulatory environment and support local clinker production, Ghana could emerge as one of West Africa’s leading cement suppliers,” he added.
Mr. Acquaye argued that Ghana’s AfCFTA competitiveness will hinge on products where the country has natural endowments and the ability to scale efficiently.
Rice and cement, he said, offer the most realistic pathways for regional competitiveness in the medium term, while poultry will require deeper structural reforms to withstand competition.
“AfCFTA rewards countries that can produce at scale, meet standards, and deliver cost-effectively. We must be strategic about where we channel investment,” he emphasised.
He welcomed the government’s renewed commitment to import substitution but urged policymakers to treat the agenda as a long-term industrialisation pathway rather than a short-term response to foreign exchange pressures.
“We must strengthen value chains, build agro-industrial zones, support processors, and create an environment where local manufacturing can thrive sustainably. If we get it right, Ghana can reduce imports, grow exports and create thousands of jobs,” Mr. Acquaye said.
He added that Ghana’s industrial future will depend on how effectively the country leverages AfCFTA to build strong local industries capable of competing beyond its borders.
