Editorial: Manufacturing sector excited by 24-hour policy

As the country is in the throes of implementing a 24-hour economy policy, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) reiterates that the initiative’s success hinges on strengthening local manufacturing capacity and protecting domestic industries from unfair competition.

At the end of the AGI National Council Retreat 2026 held in Accra recently, captains of industry threw their full weight behind the policy while calling for deliberate measures to promote value addition, strengthen local supply chains and shield manufacturers from unfair trade practices that undermine jobs and investment.

AGI president Kofi Nsiah-Poku said industry and agriculture must form the 24-hour economy’s backbone, stressing that without a vibrant manufacturing base the policy will fail to deliver sustainable employment.

“Industry is the engine that will drive the 24-hour economy. Without strong industries, the policy cannot succeed,” he said.

The association urged government to accelerate export diversification and move decisively away from exporting raw materials. It noted that Ghana remains heavily dependent on gold, crude oil and cocoa – which account for about 80 percent of export earnings, exposing the country to external shocks.

AGI called for full-scale local processing into cocoa powder, butter and finished goods. It pointed out that processed cashew, for instance, can generate up to four times the value of raw exports.

Additionally, AGI raised concerns about unfair trade practices, including smuggling, under-invoicing and the influx of substandard imports. It warned that such practices threaten the viability of local factories and discourage expansion under the 24-hour economy framework.

In view of this, they called on the Ghana Revenue Authority and other regulatory bodies to intensify surveillance at borders and unapproved entry points to prevent Ghana from becoming a dumping ground for cheap and substandard goods, especially those that the country has capacity to produce.

AGI’s Chief Executive Officer, Seth Twum-Akwaboah, added that “unfair trade practices, including smuggling and under-invoicing, undermine genuine investors and threaten jobs”.

The association urged government to address high electricity tariffs, the cost of credit, infrastructure deficits and access to long-term development finance.

Institutions such as Development Bank Ghana and other state-backed financial bodies were identified as critical to providing medium- to long-term funding for industrial expansion.

AGI emphasised the need to develop reliable agricultural value chains to ensure consistent raw material supply for manufacturers. Without stable input supply, industries cannot operate competitively or sustain 24-hour production cycles.

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