Kwame Kesse-Agyepong, Deputy Director and Head of Investment Promotion and Business Development at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has spearheaded a high-powered delegation to the Central Region, marking a decisive step in the Centre’s mission to unlock district-level economic potential.
Speaking during the Central Regional Investment Roadshow this week, Mr. Kesse-Agyepong confirmed that the Centre is prioritizing “investment-ready” agribusiness and manufacturing hubs.
Through the Investment Opportunity Mapping Project (IOMP), Mr. Kesse-Agyepong is moving to bridge the gap between rural production and international capital, aligning regional strengths with national pillars like the 24-Hour Economy and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Such enterprises demonstrate the significant potential for growth in agribusiness, manufacturing, and value-added production in the Central Region.
“The GIPC remains committed to facilitating partnerships, incentives, and investment linkages that allow these companies to scale. Our goal through the IOMP is to identify these specific hurdles and connect them with the right strategic partners to ensure sustainable growth”
Kwame Kesse-Agyepong, GIPC Deputy Director and Head of Investment Promotion and Business Development
The roadshow’s primary focus on value-added production led the team to Akwaaba Feeds in Bawjiase, a cornerstone of the livestock value chain.
The company currently supplies poultry and pig feed to ten of Ghana’s sixteen regions, demonstrating the massive scale of agribusiness already thriving in the Central Region. Mr. Kesse-Agyepong described enterprises like Akwaaba Feeds as the blueprint for the industrial transformation the government seeks to replicate nationwide.
However, the visit also exposed the structural vulnerabilities that foreign and domestic investment must address, particularly the volatility of raw material supply.
Bridging the Feed Gap
At the Akwaaba Feeds facility, General Manager Stephen Ackon provided the GIPC team with a granular look at the operations of a leading manufacturer.
The company distinguishes itself through a rigorous emphasis on innovation, maintaining experimental farms that accommodate up to 5,000 birds to test feed efficacy before commercial distribution.
Despite this sophisticated approach to production, Mr. Ackon revealed that the business remains at the mercy of seasonal fluctuations. The recurring shortage of maize, their primary input, continues to drive up production costs and limit the facility’s ability to operate at peak capacity.
Mr. Ackon’s briefing highlighted a critical investment gap: the need for robust storage and consistent supply chain financing.
Mr. Kesse-Agyepong noted that the GIPC is specifically looking for investors interested in these “ancillary” agribusiness services, noting that by solving the maize storage crisis, the region can stabilize feed prices, which in turn lowers the cost of poultry and pork for the Ghanaian consumer.
Cultural Diplomacy and Community Alignment
A unique aspect of the Central Regional Roadshow is its emphasis on “culturally inclusive,” investment.
Prior to the GIPC’s visit to the Akwaaba Feeds facility, and to ensure that economic growth translates into community benefits, Mr. Kesse-Agyepong paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II.
The GIPC leadership expressed its understanding that for large-scale projects in tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy to succeed, they must have the blessing and collaboration of traditional authorities who serve as the custodians of the land and local labor.
Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II welcomed the proactive approach, urging the GIPC to foster deeper links between the investor community and local businesses.
The delegation also held high-level engagements at the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC). Receiving the team on behalf of the Regional Minister, Chief Director Amoako Quarteng assured the GIPC of the Council’s full support in creating an enabling environment for new businesses.
By streamlining the “ease of doing business” at the regional level, the CRCC and GIPC aim to make the Central Region the preferred destination for investors looking to take advantage of the AfCFTA’s trade protocols.
Mr. Kesse-Agyepong emphasized that the roadshow is not just about big industry; it is about mapping the specific district-level opportunities that can be packaged for investors. From agro-processing in Bawjiase to tourism in Cape Coast, the IOMP is designed to provide a data-driven roadmap for the region’s future.
