Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has urged the Ghana Export-Import Bank to focus more on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in industry, particularly those adding value to agricultural products.
Speaking on behalf of the Ga Mantse, Nii Kojo Ashifie Papanyira I – Noryaa Mantse of the Ga State and Special Aide to His Majesty, at GEXIM’s 10th anniversary international conference in Accra on Wednesday, March 25, he congratulated the Bank on its achievements and commended its role in advancing institutional growth.
According to the Ga Mantse, creating industries that process and export Ghanaian agricultural products will position the country for long-term success.
One sector of particular interest is oil palm. While current focus has been on pottery, garments, and rice, he urged that SMEs in the oil palm industry receive more attention, noting that the sector’s significant potential, comparable to cocoa,
He mentioned that supporting local producers could greatly enhance Ghana’s industrial competitiveness.
“His Majesty hopes that efforts will focus more on SMEs involved in industry, especially those adding value to agricultural products. Industrialization, he notes, is key to any nation’s development, and sustainable growth depends on creating industries that can export Ghanaian products,” he said.
Recalling his visit to Malaysia, he highlighted how that country’s oil palm industry developed by learning from best practices abroad.
He encouraged Ghanaian leadership, including GEXIM management, to explore similar opportunities in the oil palm sector while maintaining the excellent work already underway in other priority industries.
