Ghana’s leading industrial giants forge Strategic Alliance at maiden policy roundtable

At the forefront of Ghana's industrial revolution, the nation’s top 100 industrial companies have announced an aggressive new strategy to work together in advancing Ghana’s manufacturing competitiveness.

This strategic alliance unveiled key outcomes at the maiden Economic Zones Chamber Policy Roundtable, which brought together industry heavyweights with a shared goal of enhancing Ghana’s position as a leading industrial hub in West Africa.

Representatives from these companies—spanning sectors such as agro-processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and heavy manufacturing—raised concerns, particularly on the issue of public and private bodies working in silos instead of working more closely.

They also discussed the pressing need for a coordinated approach to tackling industry-wide challenges such as high energy costs, inadequate infrastructure, high operational costs, inconsistent policy implementation and limited access to technology and finance.

As a way forward, further suggestions were made to explore ways to pool resources and share best practices that will help optimize production processes, increase efficiency, and reduce the overall cost of manufacturing in the country. The companies showed commitment to closing critical industrial gaps that will champion industrial innovation, promote sustainable growth, and increase Ghana’s export capacity.

A key part of the strategy involved the formation of industry-specific working groups to identify and address sectoral challenges. These groups will focus on issues such as upgrading local manufacturing capabilities, improving value chain integration, and enhancing access to international markets. Again, to further boost competitiveness, the top industrial companies will need to work closely with the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in order to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and establish partnerships that will foster knowledge transfer and access to new markets. There was a resounding call for policy reforms that would reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and create an enabling environment for industrial operators to thrive.

On the part of the Economic Zones Chamber Policy Roundtable, the platform, whilst outlining key outcomes and actions, reiterated the need for policies that align with industry goals, calling for greater support from the government to reduce operational costs and improve ease of doing business. This includes streamlining import/export procedures, reducing bureaucratic delays, and investing in critical infrastructure such as transportation and energy, all of which are seen as key drivers for industrial growth.

In a concluding statement, representatives from GIPC, GFZA, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) and Development Bank Ghana expressed their full support for enhancing collaboration between the private sector and the government, emphasizing the importance of government and financial institutions in providing the right incentives and infrastructure to sustain industrial growth.

They pledged to work alongside the private sector to ensure that policies, financing mechanisms, and trade agreements align with the needs of industrial companies.

This new collaborative effort between Ghana’s top industrial companies is set to redefine the country’s manufacturing landscape, laying the foundation for long-term competitiveness in the global economy. Through innovation, collaboration, and strategic investments, Ghana’s industrial sector is poised to take a leading role in West Africa’s economic transformation.