The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) has commended the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) for launching the Accra Trade House and Friday Market initiatives, describing them as strategic interventions to promote Made-in-Ghana products, strengthen local businesses and expand opportunities for Ghanaian enterprises in domestic and international markets.
The initiatives, launched on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Africa Trade House in Accra, are aimed at bringing Ghanaian-made products closer to consumers while providing local businesses with platforms to showcase their products, engage potential buyers and explore new market opportunities.
The launch brought together key stakeholders in Ghana’s trade, investment and export promotion sectors, including the Chief Executive Officers of GEPA, GFZA and the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), who jointly inaugurated the trade initiative.
Delivering a solidarity message at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of GFZA, Dr. Mary Awusi, praised GEPA for the initiative, stressing that deliberate efforts to promote locally manufactured goods were essential to strengthening Ghana’s productive capacity and accelerating economic development.
She noted that the establishment of dedicated platforms for Made-in-Ghana products would help increase their visibility, encourage patronage of locally produced goods and create opportunities for businesses to expand their operations.
According to her, initiatives that connect producers directly with consumers and prospective buyers are important in building a stronger domestic market while preparing Ghanaian enterprises to compete effectively beyond the country’s borders.
BOOST FOR LOCAL ENTERPRISES
Dr. Awusi underscored the need for Ghana to strengthen local production capacity and place greater emphasis on value addition as part of efforts to increase the competitiveness of its products in regional and international markets.
She indicated that the promotion of Ghanaian products must go beyond creating awareness to include sustained investment in production, improved product quality, innovation and the development of efficient marketing channels.
The GFZA Chief Executive Officer stressed that Ghanaian businesses needed the necessary support and market access to transform locally available raw materials into finished and semi-finished products that could compete favourably with imported alternatives.
She observed that strengthening the capacity of local enterprises would not only expand commercial opportunities but also contribute to job creation, industrial development and increased economic activity.
The Accra Trade House and Friday Market initiatives are therefore expected to provide an important platform for businesses seeking to increase their visibility and connect with customers in a more structured marketplace.
For local manufacturers and entrepreneurs, such platforms can also provide opportunities to understand consumer preferences, establish business relationships and identify potential distribution channels.
AFCTA OPPORTUNITIES
Dr. Awusi further highlighted the importance of positioning Ghanaian businesses to take full advantage of opportunities emerging under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The continental trade agreement provides a framework for expanding trade among African countries by creating opportunities for businesses to access wider markets across the continent.
However, she stressed the importance of strengthening the competitiveness of Ghanaian products to ensure that local enterprises could benefit meaningfully from the opportunities available.
She emphasised that increased production, value addition and improved product standards would be critical to enabling Ghanaian businesses to compete effectively within the African market.
According to her, Ghana must continue to develop its productive industries and support enterprises to move beyond the domestic market to take advantage of regional and international demand.
The GFZA, which promotes export-oriented investments and industrial development through the Free Zones scheme, is strategically positioned to contribute to these efforts by supporting businesses seeking to expand production and access export markets.
The collaboration of institutions responsible for export promotion, investment facilitation and industrial development is consequently considered important to achieving Ghana’s broader trade and economic objectives.
STRONGER INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION
Dr. Awusi noted that GFZA, GEPA and GIPA shared a common objective of increasing both the value and volume of Ghana’s exports while improving the competitiveness of locally produced goods.
She said closer collaboration among the institutions was necessary to create an enabling environment in which Ghanaian businesses could grow, attract investment, increase production and penetrate new markets.
While GEPA focuses on promoting Ghanaian products and expanding export opportunities, GFZA supports export-oriented businesses and investment, while GIPA works to attract and promote investment into the country.
Their complementary mandates, she indicated, provided opportunities for coordinated interventions to strengthen local enterprises and increase Ghana’s participation in international trade.
Effective collaboration among the institutions could also help bridge the gap between production, investment and market access, ensuring that businesses received the support needed to translate their productive capacity into sustainable commercial success.
The launch of the Accra Trade House and Friday Market initiatives is therefore seen as an opportunity to deepen cooperation among stakeholders working to advance Ghana’s export development agenda.
MADE IN GHANA, READY FOR THE WORLD
The initiatives come at a time when the promotion of locally manufactured products remains an important component of Ghana’s industrialisation and economic transformation agenda.
Expanding the market for Made-in-Ghana goods can help create demand for local production, encourage entrepreneurship and support businesses to increase their output.
However, sustained success will depend on the ability of local enterprises to maintain product quality, offer competitive prices, develop attractive packaging and meet the requirements of domestic and international markets.
The development of effective marketing platforms, together with investment in production and value addition, could help Ghanaian businesses build stronger brands and establish a more visible presence in regional and global markets.
For the country to maximise the benefits of trade liberalisation and regional integration, stakeholders will also need to ensure that businesses have access to the financing, technology, infrastructure and technical support required to expand their operations.
The Accra Trade House and Friday Market initiatives are expected to contribute to the broader effort to make Ghanaian products more accessible to consumers while creating opportunities for local enterprises to grow.
The underlying objective is to strengthen the link between Ghanaian producers and the market, ensuring that locally made products receive greater exposure and that businesses can identify opportunities for expansion.
GFZA TEAM PRESENT
Dr. Awusi was accompanied to the launch by Ms. Anita Novi Quashie, Director of Marketing and Investment Promotion; Mr. Bilal Muazu, Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs; and other officers of the Ghana Free Zones Authority.
The participation of the GFZA leadership highlighted the Authority’s support for initiatives aimed at strengthening Ghanaian enterprises, promoting investment and expanding the country’s export capacity.
The joint launch by the leadership of GEPA, GFZA, GIPA and other stakeholders further underscored the importance of a coordinated approach to promoting Ghanaian products and building a competitive export sector.
As Ghana continues to pursue opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area and the wider global economy, initiatives that connect local producers with consumers and potential buyers are expected to play an important role in strengthening the country’s trade prospects.
For the GFZA, the message remains clear: Ghana must continue to invest in local production, promote value addition and build competitive enterprises capable of taking Made-in-Ghana products to the world.
