Ghana Needs To Do The Right Things To Access International Markets,”-Trade Minister-Designate

The Minister-Designate for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has emphasised the need for Ghana to adopt robust governance practices and standards to attract international investors and expand its market access.

During her vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, Ofosu-Adjare highlighted the critical role of transparency, standardisation, and compliance with global regulations in

“It is important that we do the right things to access international markets,” she stated, stressing the need for a transparent environment where Ghana’s produce and products meet stringent global standards.

She pointed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s responsibility in ensuring that only approved chemicals are used in agricultural production. Without these measures, Ghana risks its exports being rejected in international markets, she warned.

“If we work hard but our produce and products fail to meet international standards, we are doing ourselves a disservice. Addressing this will enable us to qualify for international markets and improve our economic prospects. Issues like child labour will also be tackled in collabouration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection,” she added.

Ofosu-Adjare also identified the lack of knowledge and capacity as significant barriers to meeting global standards. She called for enhanced training and capacity-building initiatives to equip local producers with the skills and knowledge necessary for compliance.

“For standardisation, we need to up our game as a country. Sometimes, there is a lack of knowledge. So if we do capacity building, we should be able to fall within the standards. When all these things are done right, our exports will go up, the intended revenues will be received, and then at the end of the day, we will have a stable economy,” she explained.

The nominee also stressed the need to address critical issues such as child labour, which often tarnish Ghana’s image on the international stage. Collaborating with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, she said, would help resolve these issues and improve Ghana’s competitiveness.