Ghana’s 2026 budget identifies industrialisation as a central component of the nation’s economic recovery and transformation. The government is implementing initiatives to expand domestic manufacturing, promote import substitution, and enhance export-oriented production.
The Rapid Industrialisation for Jobs Programme seeks to strengthen Ghana’s industrial foundation and generate employment opportunities. A central component of this programme is the Industrial Finance and Export Guarantee Facility, managed by the Development Bank of Ghana (DBG), which will provide long-term, affordable financing to industrial enterprises.
Additionally, the programme supports ongoing initiatives to finalise industrial parks and special economic zones in Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi, which will be equipped with dependable energy, transportation, and water infrastructure to attract private investment.
During an address to Parliament on Thursday, November 13, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson emphasised the Feed-the-Industry Policy, which aims to connect agriculture and manufacturing by ensuring that local producers provide reliable raw materials to domestic processing industries. This policy specifically targets the food processing, textile, and pharmaceutical industries.
Moreover, the Ghana Standards Reform Programme will enhance product certification, quality assurance, and adherence to international trade standards, thereby improving Ghana’s competitiveness in global markets, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr Forson indicated that the industrial reforms are projected to create over 300,000 new jobs by 2028, decrease reliance on imports, and elevate the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP, marking a significant transition towards a self-sustaining, production-oriented economy.
