The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has urged the government to ensure a seamless transition for companies that benefited from the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative into the new 24-hour economy policy.
AGI President, Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, made the call during the opening session of the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition and Best Forum 2025 in Accra. He said the industrial sector expects that companies under the 1D1F programme will be migrated into the 24-hour economy with stronger incentives to support business growth and prevent disruption.
Dr. Ayim-Darke explained that the AGI welcomes the government’s 24-hour economy agenda because it has the potential to boost productivity and position Ghana as a competitive industrial hub in the regional value chain. However, he stressed that the initiative must go beyond simply keeping businesses open all day and night.
“It needs a deliberate promotion of resilience, efficiency and global competitiveness. For businesses, it means ensuring reliable energy supply, efficient transport and logistics, and supportive policy frameworks that make continuous production feasible. Incentives for industry are a necessity, such as a tax exemption regime that can trigger the expansion of business operations,” he stated.
The three-day summit, holding from September 16 to 18, is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, alongside other partners. This year’s theme is “Unlocking Industrial Potential: Strategic Approaches for Ghana’s Economic Transformation.”
Dr. Ayim-Darke also called for greater alignment among government agencies to ensure the success of the 24-hour economy initiative. He said coordination was vital to deliver transformational results that would enhance Ghana’s industrial and economic value chain.
Speaking on recent foreign exchange developments, the AGI President noted that the appreciation of the cedi has produced mixed outcomes. Importers of raw materials and finished products have benefited from reduced costs, but local manufacturers now face tougher competition due to the influx of cheaper imported goods.
“This development is creating an uneven playing field, making it difficult for domestic industries to remain competitive,” he said.
According to him, the situation is being worsened by the rise in parallel and smuggled imports, including beverages from neighbouring countries, which are affecting the operations of companies like Guinness Ghana, Coca-Cola, and other beverage producers.
“These parallel imports bypass standard regulatory checks or evade appropriate duties, giving them an artificial cost advantage while local manufacturers who comply with stringent quality and tax requirements find themselves at a disadvantage. We urge regulatory bodies to enforce their mandates to correct such market failures. We can attest to a number of cartels that have ganged up and disrupted our operations through the border,” he added.
Dr. Ayim-Darke said industrialisation should not be viewed merely as an economic ambition but as a national necessity. He stressed that no country has achieved lasting prosperity without a strong industrial base, and Ghana must leverage its natural resources, human capital, and strategic location to become a manufacturing hub in West Africa.
“The challenge lies in unlocking this potential in a way that transforms our economy, creates decent jobs and enhances competitiveness,” he said.
He called for fair electricity tariff pricing and more investment in energy infrastructure to strengthen competitiveness for industries. He warned that without deliberate policy and regulatory interventions, local industries risk losing their competitive edge, which could derail the country’s industrialisation agenda and long-term economic transformation.
Dr. Ayim-Darke also urged the government to consider enforcing strict import standards to curb unfair competition from low-quality or unregulated parallel imports. He said incentivising local manufacturers remains essential to ensure the sustainability of Ghana’s industrial base.
