Ghana is intensifying efforts to position locally manufactured goods such as gari, textiles and garments for larger markets across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said government was focused on strengthening the capacity of Ghanaian businesses while creating stronger connections between local producers and consumers across the continent.
She said Ghanaian products had significant potential to compete in African markets, but businesses needed support to meet required standards, improve production capacity and gain access to reliable market information.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare made the remarks when the African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Francisca Tatchoup Belobe, paid a courtesy call on her in Accra.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Ghana and the African Union to discuss ways of deepening economic cooperation and translating the AfCFTA into practical opportunities for businesses.
Focus on Export Readiness
The Minister said government was implementing training, capacity-building and other support programmes to prepare Ghanaian businesses for competition in export markets.
She said particular attention was being given to women-owned enterprises, with the aim of ensuring that women entrepreneurs were positioned to take advantage of the opportunities created by continental trade integration.
According to the Minister, producing quality goods alone would not guarantee success in African markets.
Businesses, she noted, must also be connected to buyers and equipped with accurate information on demand, market requirements and available opportunities across different countries.
Government was therefore working to strengthen the links between Ghanaian producers and potential markets, she said.
Building Ghana’s Continental Trade Presence
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare further identified pharmaceuticals, components manufacturing, textiles and garments, and agribusiness as areas where government policies could support the country’s efforts to expand its presence in African markets.
She said the development of these sectors could complement the work of the AfCFTA Secretariat and increase Ghana’s contribution to intra-African trade.
With Ghana hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Minister said the country had a responsibility to demonstrate how African businesses could benefit from the removal of trade barriers and increased economic integration.
She said Ghana’s focus was therefore not only on hosting the continental trade institution but also on ensuring that local businesses were equipped to take advantage of the wider African market.
The renewed push is expected to create opportunities for Made-in-Ghana products to move beyond the domestic market, while supporting industrial development, entrepreneurship and job creation through increased participation in continental trade.
