The Government of Ghana has taken a bold step toward accelerating its industrialization agenda with the rollout of Light Industrial Parks across the country—an initiative described as a “strategic priority” by the Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi.
Addressing a high-level public-private dialogue on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, Sampson Ahi emphasized that the industrial parks are pivotal to the success of President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy Programme and Ghana’s export-led growth vision.
The dialogue, attended by policymakers, industry leaders, development partners, and regulatory bodies, forms part of ongoing stakeholder consultations following the President’s recent engagement with captains of industry at the Jubilee House.
Sampson Ahi clarified that the Light Industrial Parks go beyond land demarcation, aiming to establish well-planned zones with reliable utility services, accessible roads, permitting infrastructure, and shared facilities. These zones are expected to spur job creation, drive SME growth, promote value addition, enable technology transfer, and help decongest urban centers.
“Fast-tracking is not just a desire; it is an economic imperative. We are gathered here with a shared vision to accelerate industrial growth, create jobs, and position Ghana as a competitive hub for manufacturing excellence.” Sampson Ahi said.
The Deputy Minister also announced that a Draft Special Economic Zones and Industrial Park Policy and Bill is near completion and will soon be presented to Cabinet and Parliament.
The legislation will offer targeted incentives to investors and broaden the scope of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, with particular focus on agro-processing, textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, and other light manufacturing sectors.
Sampson Ahi who serves as Member of Parliament for Bodi called for robust collaboration between government and the private sector, stressing that no single entity can drive industrial transformation alone.
“This dialogue offers a unique opportunity to forge a shared vision for sustainable industrial growth,” he stated. “Success depends on collaboration, innovation, and a firm commitment to implementation.”
Sampson Ahi further pledged government’s readiness to improve the ease of doing business by streamlining administrative procedures and making strategic public investments to unlock private capital.
Adding to the momentum, Dr. Ishmael Nii Dodoo, Head of Innovation, Partnership and Markets at the 24+ Economy Secretariat, reiterated government’s bold goal to create at least 50,000 sustainable jobs over the next three years through this initiative.
“Jobs that will uplift communities, strengthen our manufacturing base, and contribute significantly to GDP,” he said.
Dr. Dodoo underscored the urgency of collective action and revealed that the 24+ Economy Secretariat, in collaboration with institutions such as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), and local government authorities, is actively preparing strategic sites for garment parks and industrial clusters.
“Ghana must become not only investment-ready but investor-competitive within the next 6 to 9 months,” he urged.
