The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) participates in the official opening of the 3rd edition of the Ghana Horticulture Expo 2026 at the Palms Convention Centre in Accra.
The three-day expo brings together farmers, exporters, processors, financial institutions, students, entrepreneurs, development partners and other value chain actors to promote investment, innovation and growth in Ghana’s horticulture and non-traditional export sectors.
The event is organized by the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) under the theme, “From Soil to Sovereignty: Building Agricultural Self-Reliance.’’
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Finance and Administration, Mr. Hamidu Sibiri Musah, represents the GFZA as a special guest at the opening ceremony.
He is joined by the Director of Marketing and Investment Promotion, Ms. Anita Novi Quashie, and officers from the Corporate Affairs, PR and Aftercare Department and the Marketing and Investment Promotion Department.
The ceremony attracts high level participation from government, the private sector, and the diplomatic community, underscoring the growing importance of horticulture to Ghana’s industrialization and export diversification agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, says her priority is to strengthen the linkages between production, industry and markets.
‘’The goal is to ensure that agricultural output supports industrial development, more value is added locally, and competitive Ghanaian produce reaches larger domestic and international markets.’’
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare
The Minister notes that this objective sits at the heart of the newly approved Agribusiness Policy. According to her, the policy addresses critical constraints in raw material supply, financing, value addition and market access to help Ghana create and retain greater value from its productive capacity.
She adds that government remains committed to creating an enabling environment that empowers farmers, agribusinesses and exporters, while leveraging Ghana’s comparative advantage in horticulture to drive job creation, foreign exchange earnings and inclusive growth.
Self- Reliance Demands Strong Value Chains
Mr. Hamidu Sibiri Musah, in his address says this year’s theme is both timely and significant. He states that agricultural self-reliance requires the development of productive capacity, resilient value chains and efficient business systems that enable Ghana to feed its people, supply its industries, reduce avoidable import dependence, create decent jobs and earn foreign exchange, while remaining competitive in international markets.
‘’The GFZA plays a critical role in this transformation by providing an enabling framework for export oriented enterprises to establish operations, expand production, undertake value addition and compete effectively in international markets.’’
Mr. Musah
He says enterprises licensed under the Free Zones Programme benefit from a comprehensive package of fiscal and customs incentives that help reduce the cost of investment and production and enhance competitiveness.
These incentives, he notes, include exemptions on import duties and levies on machinery, equipment and raw materials, as well as tax holidays and other investor support services that de-risk investment and accelerate growth.
According to Mr. Musah, horticulture represents one of the most promising avenues for Ghana’s export diversification and industrialization drive, given its potential for high value addition, rapid job creation and strong linkages to logistics, packaging, cold chain and processing industries.
He emphasizes that the Authority continues to facilitate investments across the horticulture value chain, from primary production and pack-house operations to processing, cold storage and export logistics. He invites investors, exporters and entrepreneurs present at the expo to engage the GFZA to explore how the Free Zones framework supports their expansion and export ambitions.
He also commends FAGE for sustaining the Ghana Horticulture Expo as a strategic platform for dialogue, business matching and market development. He says the expo aligns with GFZA’s mandate to promote export-led growth and to attract and retain investments that create value for the Ghanaian economy.
Officials from FAGE say the 2026 edition builds on the successes of previous editions and focuses on practical solutions to the challenges facing Ghanaian horticultural producers and exporters.
The Expo Spotlights Finance, Standards and AfCFTA
The expo features exhibitions, business-to-business meetings, technical workshops and panel discussions on issues such as access to finance, compliance with international standards, climate-smart production, post-harvest management, value addition and market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Exhibitors showcase a wide range of products and services, including fresh fruits and vegetables, processed horticultural products, agricultural inputs, packaging solutions, financial products and logistics services.
For GFZA, participation in the expo provides an opportunity to engage directly with current and potential Free Zone Enterprises, as well as small and medium-scale exporters seeking to scale up into structured export operations.
The Authority uses the platform to provide on-site advisory services on licensing procedures, incentive packages, site options within Free Zones enclaves and industrial parks, and aftercare support for enterprises.
The Ghana Horticulture Expo 2026 continues until Friday, September 5, with more technical sessions, exhibitions and investment dialogues expected to drive new partnerships and business deals for Ghana’s horticulture sector.
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