The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has identified the sub-sectors in the economy that could lead the government’s growth agenda in the coming year to support the reset initiative.
The data provided by the GSS outlined the sub-sectors in the third quarter of the economy that require either strengthening or resuscitation to sustain the economy’s recovery path. These subsectors fall under the real sector, where significant productivity is achieved.
The Ghanaian economy has made gains throughout the first eleven months of 2025, and the data from the GSS could point the country to the path of achieving sustained economic growth in 2026.
According to the data provided by the GSS, considering only the third quarter or the first three quarters of 2025, it is notable that the agricultural and service sectors are the main contributors to the overall growth in the economy.
Potential Expansionary Sub-sectors to Prioritize
In the third quarter of 2025, fishing and crops are among the top five sub-sectors that expanded. They are both under the agriculture sector and primarily regulated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), respectively.
The fishing industry covers products from the marine, inland (freshwater) sources, and aquaculture operated under artisanal/small-scale fishery (primarily using canoes and various nets and lines), semi-industrial/inshore fishery (locally-built wooden boats operations like purse-seine and trawl nets), industrial fishery (larger steel-hulled trawlers), and aquaculture (confined environments like fish ponds, the Volta Lake, and reservoirs).
The crop sub-sector is the major and largest activity under the broader agriculture sector, extremely diverse, and combines subsistence and commercial farming of several crops. The sub-sector includes staple crops (roots, tubers, and cereals), industrial/cash crops, legumes, and fruits and vegetables.
According to agriculture experts, the most produced crop in Ghana is Cassava, the most important cereal is maize, and Ghana’s principal export is cocoa.
Data from the GSS revealed that the fishing sub-sector expanded by 23.1 percent in the third quarter of 2025, the crop sub-sector grew by 8.3 percent, and the broader agriculture sector grew by 8.6 percent.
In the coming year, as the government has already indicated in promoting the oil palm industry in 2026, the crop and fishing sectors should be supported to further expand their growth and contribution to the overall growth.
The service sector, which grew by 7.6 percent in the third quarter, rested on the performance of three sub-sectors, part of the top five expanding sub-sectors in the period. The Information and Communication (ICT) grew by 17.0 percent, the transport and storage sub-sector expanded by 10.4 percent, while trade, repair of vehicles, and household goods, as a unit, expanded by 10.0 percent.
Under the service sector, ICT initiatives modernization, transport and storage moving goods, and Trade hands consumer and industrial products, all vital for businesses and GDP growth through job creation.
The ICT covers telecommunications (phone networks), internet/intranet, digital platforms, and other tech services that facilitate growth across the economy. Transport and storage include road, rail, maritime, water, and air transport, crucial for transporting food, agricultural products, and general goods, while connecting Ghana to landlocked neighbors. Trade, repair of vehicles and household goods also consist of buying/selling of consumer goods, industrial products, vehicle maintenance, and repair services, a major component of Ghana’s GDP.
The government needs to strengthen operations in these sub-sectors and the sector in general to continue its leadership, modernization, job creation, facilitating trade, and diversification of the economy.
Sub-Sectors in Need of Support to Boost Growth
The GSS data also revealed the sub-sectors in the Ghanaian economy that contracted most in the third quarter of 2025. The service sector, which contributed most to the GDP within the period, also produced some of the worst-performing sectors. The industry sector, which grew by 0.8 percent, also has one sub-sector performing poorly, affecting the entire sector’s performance.
According to Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, the health and social work sub-sector contracted by 9.7 percent, accommodation and food service activities also contracted by 7.2 percent, and other personal service activities contracted by 3.5 percent. All three fall under the broader service sector (Tertiary Industry) and provide intangible goods or services.
The health and social work sub-sector constitute services from the hospitals, clinics (both public and private), pharmacies, social welfare services, nursing homes, community health, and related support staff. The accommodation and food service activities also refer to services from hotels, guest houses, restaurants, bars, cafes, street food vendors, and tourism-related hospitality. The other personal service activities include hair salons, beauty parlors, laundry services, repair shops (non-motorized), funeral services, gyms, and other small-scale consumer-focused businesses.
Significant investment from the government and a conducive environment for private development in these crucial sub-sectors will create more jobs, improve the living conditions of citizens, and contribute to more growth. Tourism and small and micro-enterprises (MSMEs) require support for growth.
The mining and quarrying sub-sector contracted by 2.8 percent within the period, a sub-sector of the industry sector. The oil and gas subsector, a component of the mining and quarrying sector, shrank by 18.2 percent, causing the 2.8 percent contraction. According to the Government Statistician, but for the abysmal performance of the oil and gas, the mining and quarrying sub-sector would have expanded.
The data points the government to priority areas for growth in the coming financial year. The government must consolidate to support both performing and non-performing sectors.
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