The government is projecting an even stronger performance for the trade and industrial sector in 2026, following key policy and regulatory milestones achieved in 2025.
Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, says despite inheriting difficult conditions, the ministry used 2025 to initiate a reset agenda aimed at stabilizing and repositioning industry and agribusiness for growth.
She highlighted that a major focus of the year was direct engagement with industry players to identify bottlenecks and implement practical solutions to improve the operating environment.
One of the most significant interventions in 2025, the minister cited, was the extension of the repatriation period for export proceeds from 60 to 120 days.
The policy shift is expected to ease cash flow pressures on exporters, improve compliance, and enhance Ghana’s export competitiveness, particularly for manufacturers and agribusiness firms operating across regional and international markets.
“At the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, we say it has been a good year, even though what we inherited wasn’t the best. As we speak now, we have been able to start the reset agenda, and it has started very well. You will see that the industry was visited.
“We met industry, we discussed issues, and we solved them. The top was the repatriation of export proceeds, which was 60 days. By the intervention of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, led by my good self, we were able to increase it from 60 to 120 days,” Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said in a sideline interview with the media at the Ministry’s carol service.
She mentioned that the ministry also deepened collaboration with traders and agribusiness practitioners, culminating in the organisation of an agribusiness dialogue that laid the groundwork for a comprehensive agribusiness policy.
In addition, she highlighted several sector-specific frameworks that were advanced during the year, including a draft textile and garment policy, a draft pharmaceutical bill, and proposals to support component manufacturing.
These initiatives are intended to strengthen local value addition, support import substitution and expand Ghana’s industrial base.
“We are working closely with traders, we are working closely with agribusiness practitioners. This year alone, we were able to do the agribusiness dialogue. So now we have an agribusiness policy, we have a textile and garment policy draft, we have a draft bill for pharmaceutical, for component manufacturing, just to mention a few.
“I think that the staff have done so well. I have been able to achieve this with the supportive staff, with an amazing Deputy Minister, an awesome Chief Director and top of the notch staff at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry. We want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2026, where we will even do better” the minister concluded.
