Amid ongoing discussions about strategies to boost value addition and manufacturing in Ghana—thereby enhancing export earnings, job creation, and inclusive development—a crucial question arises: What role can Special Economic Zones (SEZs) play in driving industrialization?
Over 100 representatives from industry, government agencies, and academia convened at a national dissemination and policy forum to tackle this question. Chaired by the President of the Ghana Association of Industries (AGI), with the CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) as special guest, the event brought together notable sectors to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and develop strategies for leveraging SEZs for development.
AGI President Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke thanked the researchers, expressing hope that their findings will be implemented to advance Ghana’s industrialization goals.
“One cannot underestimate the pivotal role SEZs play in catalyzing industrialization. However, while SEZs offer immense potential, they are not without challenges and controversies,” said AGI President Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke. He highlighted the combined impacts of unfavourable external and internal economic factors on Ghana's industries and the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Dr. Ayim-Darke expressed hope that future industrialization would be realized through the implementation of such research.
Ambassador Mike Ocquaye Jnr, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, underscored the importance of SEZs as “a critical driver of our economic success and industrialization.” He cited examples of the positive impact of the Ghana’s free zones in employment, livelihood support, industrialization, and export revenue. He also revealed preparations by his authority to adopt a special new free zones policy aimed at leveraging the numerous advantages offered by SEZs.
Special Guest, Ambassador Mike Ocquaye Jnr, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, highlighted the potential of SEZs as a driver of economic development and industrialization.
Other special guests who addressed the opening session included Dr. John Hawkins-Asiedu, Technical Advisor on SEZs at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI). He emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing the SEZ framework through new policies and regulations. “We hope the findings from this study will help us [MOTI] to enrich the [new SEZs] policy document and finalise it for approval,” he said.
In remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Robert Darko Osei, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Ghana expressed his excitement about the study's alignment with the university's strategic objectives, including fostering collaborative research and policy engagement.
On his part, Prof. Holger Görg, Director of the Centre for International Trade and Investment at the University of Kiel and global lead for the SEZ project, highlighted the longstanding collaboration between ISSER, the University of Ghana, and the Kiel Institute. "We are not in our ivory tower," he remarked, emphasizing the research team's commitment to practical and impactful studies.
The researchers shared findings from India, Africa, and Ghana, providing a comparative context and deeper understanding of the impact of SEZs.
The presentation of findings followed these opening remarks. Prof. Charles Ackah presented findings from the Ghana study, while Prof. Görg and Alina Mulyukova from the Kiel Institute shared evidence from India and other African countries. The forum included a panel discussion moderated by celebrated journalist Bernard Avle of Citi FM, and open discussions, providing participants with opportunities to enrich the conversation with their insights and engage directly with the researchers.
The event drew leaders and management teams from key stakeholder organizations, fostering collaboration and insightful discussions on the role of SEZs in Ghana’s industrialization.
The forum, held on 7 June at Kempinski Hotel in Accra, marked the culmination of a four-year collaborative study on SEZs and their implications for development and social inequality in emerging economies, specifically Ghana, nine other African countries), India, and Vietnam. ISSER led the implementation of the Ghana study as part of a consortium of five research institutions from Africa, Asia, and Europe that joined forces to better understand the role of SEZs in the economic development process. A policy brief summarizing the findings of the Ghana study can be read/downloaded here.
A recording of the forum can be accessed here.
Selected online media reports are as follows:
This is the first article in a two-part series on the ISSER National Policy Forum on SEZs. Read the part two here.
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