The Government has placed industrialisation at the centre of the 2026 Budget, outlining programmes aimed at expanding domestic manufacturing, supporting import substitution, and boosting export-oriented production.
Presenting the Budget Statement to Parliament on Thursday, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, said the initiative formed part of efforts to rebuild the economy and create sustainable jobs.
Under the Rapid Industrialisation for Jobs Programme, Government will operationalise the Industrial Finance and Export Guarantee Facility, to be managed by the Development Bank Ghana (DBG). The facility is expected to provide long-term and affordable financing to industrial enterprises.
Dr Forson said the programme aligns with ongoing work to complete industrial parks and special economic zones in Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi, which will offer reliable energy, transport, and water infrastructure to attract private investment.
He highlighted the Feed-the-Industry Policy as a key intervention linking agriculture to manufacturing by ensuring that local producers supply raw materials to domestic processing industries. The policy will prioritise the food processing, textile, and pharmaceutical sectors.
The Minister also announced the roll-out of the Ghana Standards Reform Programme to improve product certification, quality assurance, and compliance with international standards. He noted that the reform would better position Ghanaian products for global markets, including opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr Forson said the combined industrial measures are expected to create more than 300,000 jobs by 2028, reduce import dependence, and raise the contribution of manufacturing to the national economy.