Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has called for a radical shift in Africa’s industrial strategy, advocating for the harmonization of standards and the establishment of regional value chains to accelerate the continent’s transformation.
Speaking at the Africa Trade Summit in Accra, the Minister emphasized that the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will remain unfulfilled if African nations continue to operate in isolation.
During the high-level ministerial dialogue, she outlined Ghana’s aggressive policy shift toward “converting extraction into value,” which includes a strategic ban on the export of certain non-ferrous raw materials to ensure domestic industries have a steady supply of inputs.
“Industrialisation will remain elusive if African producers continue to face multiple and duplicative standards regimes across the continent. Standardisation is one of the most practical tools for accelerating industrialisation and facilitating the free movement of goods within Africa.
“We must move toward a system where a product certified in one African country is accepted across all others without further delay or resource waste”
Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare highlighted the “duplicative standards regimes” as a significant barrier to trade, noting that Ghanaian products cleared by national authorities often undergo redundant testing in neighboring countries. This lack of harmonization, she argued, increases costs, causes delays, and weakens the competitiveness of African manufacturers on the global stage.
By standardizing regulatory protocols, African nations can facilitate the free movement of goods and build “industrial champions” capable of competing with international brands.
Linking Agribusiness to Industrial Demand
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare further noted that in order to address the chronic shortage of raw materials that plagues many factories, Ghana has implemented the “Feed the Industry Programme,” – an initiative designed to link agribusiness production directly to the demand of domestic manufacturers.
By mobilizing land, youth, and irrigation infrastructure, the government aims to provide factories with a consistent supply of raw materials, particularly in the textiles, garments, pharmaceuticals, and automotive component sectors.
The Minister added that no factory can operate efficiently without a reliable supply of inputs, making intentional resource management a prerequisite for industrial growth.
She further reiterated that the government has utilized its trade policy to safeguard local manufacturing by banning the export of specific raw materials. This ensures that value addition happens within Ghana’s borders, creating jobs and increasing the complexity of the country’s export basket.
Financing and Coordinated Regional Strategies
The dialogue on “Accelerating Africa’s Industrial Transformation: Converting Extraction into Value and Building Industrial Champions,” moderated by GIPC CEO Mr. Simon Madjie, also featured H.E. Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director-General of UNIDO, who emphasized the need for industrial corridors.
She argued that industrial policy, infrastructure, energy, and finance must move together to unlock long-term financing..
“African countries should stop competing in isolation and instead coordinate production across borders to maximise shared strengths under AfCFTA. We must transition from fragmented national approaches to coordinated regional industrial strategies.
“By focusing on sectors where we have a competitive advantage, such as pharmaceuticals and automotive components, we can build a resilient, self-sustaining African economy”
H.E. Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director-General of UNIDO
For her part, Liberia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Hon. Magdalene E. Dagoseh, pointed to “uneven political will,” as an obstacle to integration, calling for an increased pace in the implementation of continental commitments
The Ministerial Dialogue concluded with a shared call for African governments to prioritise collaboration over competition, harmonise standards, invest in infrastructure and skills, and deliberately link national industrial policies to regional and continental frameworks in order to unlock sustainable industrial growth.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare called for innovative and blended financing models – combining government support, private capital, and development finance – to ease the interest rate burden on manufacturers.
She noted that while macroeconomic stability is improving in Ghana, targeted incentives remain necessary for export-oriented industries to scale.
READ ALSO: BoG Sets GH¢100 Million Microfinance Capital Threshold
