Industrial Transformation Begins With Value Addition – Trade Minister

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has emphasised that Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda must be firmly anchored on value addition, as government intensifies efforts to reposition the economy for productivity, competitiveness and long-term export growth.

She argued that Africa’s historic dependence on exporting raw commodities has slowed wealth creation across the continent, noting that Ghana is deliberately charting a different path through policies that expand local processing capacity and strengthen domestic value chains.

Speaking at the launch of the Africa Trade Summit 2026, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said strategic sectors such as cocoa, cashew, shea, palm oil, coconut and cassava are experiencing renewed investor interest, improved market systems and increased processing capabilities, aligning with government’s broader agenda to ensure that local producers capture a larger share of the value generated from natural resources.

“The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry recognizes that industrial transformation begins with value addition. For far too long, African economies have exported raw commodities only to import finished products at several times the value. Ghana is actively working to change this dynamic. In the cocoa sector, which remains one of the pillars of our economy, we are steadily increasing processing capacity so that a greater share of our cocoa is transformed locally into intermediate and finished products,” she said.

She added that domestic grinders, chocolate manufacturers and cocoa-based SMEs are expanding, supported by a policy framework that encourages investment in local processing. “Similar efforts are underway in the cashew, shea, palm oil, coconut and cassava value chains, where new processing facilities, improved market linkages, and stronger quality standards are enabling farmers and agribusinesses to move up the value ladder.”

The Minister further highlighted the central role of the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative in driving productivity. She said the initiative provides a major opportunity for manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, health and digital services to scale operations through round-the-clock activity.

“This initiative is a practical restructuring of how our economy functions and an invitation to the private sector to scale operations and increase investment, adding that it is designed to expand national output, create sustainable jobs and position Ghana as a continuous-production hub ready to serve regional and global markets,” she noted.

On trade facilitation, she pointed to recent gains in maritime logistics, particularly the completion of phases one and two of the Tema Port Expansion Project, which now positions the port as one of Africa’s most efficient container terminals. She said upgrades at Takoradi Port will further enhance bulk cargo and energy-related trade, reinforcing Ghana’s competitiveness as a trading nation.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare stressed that efficient logistics remain the backbone of industrialization: “Industrialization cannot advance without a strong trade and logistics system.”

With Ghana hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat, she reaffirmed the country’s commitment to deepening regional integration and strengthening guided trade. She said Ghana’s experience under AfCFTA rules has already demonstrated the competitiveness of locally processed goods across African markets.

“For investors and businesses gathered here today, producing in Ghana gives you access not only to our domestic market but to a continental market of 1.3 billion people. This is a unique strategic advantage that we intend to strengthen through continuous policy reforms, trade facilitation measures and close collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat,” she stated.

She concluded by calling for deeper collaboration between government, development partners and private investors, especially in long-term industrial financing and support for sector-specific value chains. Such partnerships, she noted, are essential to sustaining manufacturing growth, building resilient supply chains and expanding cross-border infrastructure.