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The Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in charge of Global Partnerships and External Relations, Ms. Fatou Haidara, has called for strengthened collaboration with Ghana to accelerate industrialisation, trade development, and sustainable economic growth.
Ms. Haidara made the call on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, when she paid a courtesy visit to the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, in Accra. The engagement formed part of efforts to deepen the long-standing partnership between Ghana and UNIDO, with a renewed focus on translating policy into tangible industrial outcomes.
The Minister expressed appreciation to UNIDO for its sustained support to Ghana’s industrial and trade development agenda, particularly in agribusiness and value chain development. She urged the organisation to scale up its presence in Ghana through enhanced staffing and technical engagement to maximise impact and ensure closer coordination with national priorities.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare highlighted government’s flagship Feed the Industry Programme as a key intervention requiring strong international partnership to succeed. She also sought targeted UNIDO support for the garments and textiles sub-sector, describing it as a critical source of jobs, exports, and inclusive growth. As part of broader industrial policy reforms, she noted that government has banned the export of non-ferrous metals to retain raw materials locally, stimulate value addition, and promote wealth creation.
The Minister further announced plans by government, in partnership with the private sector, to establish three new factories in the Bono East, Central, and Eastern Regions in 2026. The factories are expected to operate on a 24-hour basis and create about 27,000 decent jobs, contributing significantly to regional development and employment creation.
She also called for UNIDO’s assistance to strengthen Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, stressing the need to improve their efficiency, competitiveness, and readiness for export markets. According to the Minister, empowering SMEs remains central to Ghana’s industrial transformation and inclusive growth agenda.
Reaffirming government’s commitment, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare pledged strong political support for UNIDO’s work in Ghana and underscored the importance of collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area to harmonise standards, deepen regional integration, and expand market access for Ghanaian products.
In her response, Ms. Haidara commended Ghana’s clear vision and strategic approach to industrial development, particularly the Feed the Industry Programme. She described the initiative as well-aligned with UNIDO’s mandate and capable of strengthening skills development and industrial value chains.
She assured the Minister of UNIDO’s full commitment to delivering on the Programme for Country Partnership, noting that the organisation remains aligned with Ghana’s development priorities. Ms. Haidara was accompanied by the Director of UNIDO’s Regional Bureau for Africa, Madam Victoria Djeba.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared resolve of Ghana and UNIDO to deepen cooperation in support of inclusive, sustainable, and job-rich industrialisation.
Source:
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