Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, has revealed that the country loses about $2.5 billion in export earnings each year.
The minister attributed the losses to Ghana’s heavy reliance on exporting raw agricultural products, stressing that limited focus on value addition continues to undermine potential revenue.
She shared these remarks on the second day of the Kwahu Business Forum 2026, held at the Kwahu Convention Centre on April 4, 2026.
After months of consultations with key stakeholders that began in July last year, it was announced that Ghana’s national agricultural policy framework had been completed and opened for public discussion.
“The constraint has been scaled and the conditions necessary to achieve it,” she stated.
Acting on instructions from John Dramani Mahama, the framework will be presented to Cabinet for official approval.
The policy aims to help Ghana derive greater value from its agricultural sector by strengthening linkages across the value chain and promoting agro-processing.
She added that the ministry has also developed supporting industrial policies targeting strategic sectors such as textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components, to provide investors with clearer regulations, incentives, and standards.
On trade opportunities, the minister emphasized Ghana’s role in championing intra-African commerce, particularly as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
She further noted that ongoing initiatives are designed to enhance the competitiveness of businesses across Africa by improving access to vital resources, including data on rules of origin, certification support, and tariff details.
The minister concluded by stressing that government efforts alone are not enough, urging the private sector to align with policy directions by investing in technology, skills development, corporate governance, and adherence to standards.