Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has called on Ghanaians living in the United Kingdom to take advantage of Ghana’s improving business climate and invest in the country’s rapidly expanding industrial and agribusiness sectors.
Addressing a Town Hall Meeting with members of the Ghanaian community in London as part of activities marking the Ghana-UK Investment Summit, the Minister highlighted what she described as significant economic and industrial gains achieved under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama within the past 16 months.
Speaking to an enthusiastic gathering of diaspora members, Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare praised the contributions of Ghanaians abroad, describing them as ambassadors who continue to elevate Ghana’s image across the globe.
“I’m excited to be at this gathering of proud Ghanaians who continue to lift the Black Star high and have become the envy of the world. We say, ‘Ayekoo, you left home, but Ghana never left you.’ Today, under the leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Ghana is calling you back as partners in the transformation that is already underway,” she said.
The Minister noted that the government has undertaken far-reaching reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, attracting investment, revitalising local industries, and removing bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically hindered growth.
According to her, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has been strategically repositioned to drive comprehensive reforms across key sectors of the economy, with a strong focus on boosting manufacturing and value addition.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare revealed that Ghana’s manufacturing sector is experiencing steady expansion, with several companies increasing production capacity and investing in modern facilities across industries such as food processing, ceramics, beverages, steel production, cement manufacturing, garments and textiles, pharmaceuticals, and automotive assembly.
“These industrial facilities are being established across the country. It is becoming a norm that every quarter, the President commissions new industrial projects, positioning Ghana as the preferred manufacturing hub within the sub-region,” she stated.
The Minister further disclosed that government policies are increasingly geared towards promoting the consumption of Made-in-Ghana products while encouraging local industries to become more competitive both domestically and internationally.
She explained that a major component of the government’s industrial strategy involves strengthening local supply chains through investment in commercial contract farming and the production of high-quality raw materials needed by local manufacturers.
This approach, she said, is supporting Ghana’s broader value-addition agenda and reducing dependence on imported industrial inputs.
Highlighting the impact of these policies, Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare announced that Ghana’s non-traditional export sector recorded unprecedented growth in 2025, reaching a historic value of $5 billion.
According to her, the figure represents a 30.7 percent increase over the previous year, driven largely by processed and semi-processed products.
“Processed and semi-processed foods contributed $3.09 billion, representing a growth of 52.78 percent over 2024. This demonstrates that our focus on value addition is yielding tangible results,” she said.
She also credited ongoing collaboration between her ministry and the Bank of Ghana for improving the competitiveness of exporters.
One notable intervention, she explained, was the extension of the repatriation period for export proceeds from 60 days to 120 days, providing exporters with greater flexibility in international trade transactions.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana for supporting the initiative.
Looking ahead, Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare announced that government is preparing to introduce several key policy frameworks during the second half of the year to further strengthen strategic sectors including agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, garments and textiles, automotive component manufacturing, and special economic zones.
She said government has also taken decisive steps to improve investor confidence through legislative reforms and enhanced investment protections.
Among the measures highlighted were the proposed Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, the removal of minimum capital requirements for joint ventures and foreign enterprises, the introduction of industry-specific incentives, the establishment of an investor grievance mechanism, and stronger legal protections against expropriation.
“These reforms guarantee the free transfer of capital and profits and provide clear access to international arbitration, ensuring that investors operate within a transparent and predictable legal framework,” she explained.
The Minister made a direct appeal to members of the Ghanaian diaspora to become active participants in the economic transformation by investing in local businesses and emerging industries.
“My mission this evening is very simple. We are inviting you to build wealth alongside our country by investing in the Ghanaian market, where returns remain highly competitive and investors are assured of a transparent and predictable business environment,” she said.
The Town Hall Meeting formed part of broader engagements between the government and the Ghanaian diaspora in the United Kingdom aimed at strengthening partnerships, promoting investment opportunities, and leveraging diaspora expertise to accelerate national development.
By 1960news.com
