By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, Nov. 09, GNA – The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has called for a trade policy that requires foreign-owned shopping malls operating in Ghana to allocate a specified percentage of their shelf space to made-in-Ghana products to support local industrial growth.
Mr Seth Twum Akwaboah, Chief Executive Officer of the AGI, said the association was not opposed to the establishment of foreign shopping malls, which had contributed to a more competitive business environment.
However, he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani that a policy framework was needed to ensure that foreign-owned malls reserved a proportion of their retail space for locally manufactured goods.
Mr Akwaboah’s call follows concerns raised by some traders in the Sunyani Central Business District (CBD), who say the growing number of shopping malls is affecting their businesses.
According to some women traders, the influx of modern shopping malls, particularly Chinese-owned outlets, has increased economic pressure on small-scale retailers due to their ability to offer lower prices.
“If they have come to set up big and beautiful infrastructure for people to go and buy there, it isn’t a problem and that is fine. However, emphasis must be placed on what they sell there.
“If it’s only foreign or Chinese wares that they are selling then that is really unacceptable and a policy must ensure that they sell a certain percentage of local products,” Mr Akwaboah stated.
He said such a policy would help create a more supportive environment for local manufacturing and stimulate industrial growth and development.
Touching on the Association’s expectations for the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, Mr Akwaboah expressed optimism that the budget would place greater emphasis on industrial development.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, is expected to present the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on November 12, 2026.
Mr Akwaboah said the AGI remained committed to contributing its expertise towards the effective implementation of the Government’s 24-hour economy initiative, the “Big Push” road infrastructure programme and other socio-economic policies aimed at accelerating national development.
He said the Association expected the Government to allocate more resources to support the implementation of the 24-hour economy policy.
Mr Akwaboah explained that for the policy to succeed, industries must have access to medium-term development financing to expand production, reduce costs, improve competitiveness, and increase their market share.
According to him, increased local production would help reduce imports while creating more employment opportunities for Ghanaians.
“The budget must also highlight the measures the Government is putting in place to protect local industries from unfair trading practices,” he stated.
Mr Akwaboah added that another major concern of the AGI was the high cost of electricity, noting that many large-scale industries had experienced tariff increases of more than 40 per cent.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Dennis Peprah
Email: [email protected]