On 3rd April 2025, the Eastern-Volta-Oti Regional Branch of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) held a Post-Budget Dialogue in Koforidua to unpack the implications of the 2025 budget on industry, explore viable investment pathways, and critically assess how private sector players and investors can collaborate to turn potential into progress.
The dialogue, themed “Navigating the Fiscal Landscape: Strategic Investment Opportunities & Challenges in Ghana’s 2025 Budget for Industry,” brought together stakeholders not only as contributors to Ghana’s economic development but also as active participants in shaping a resilient and prosperous future for industry.
The Chairperson of the Eastern, Volta, and Oti Branch of the Association, Mr. Dela Gadzanku, said that as we stand at the threshold of 2025, Ghana’s fiscal outlook presents both opportunities and formidable challenges. According to him, the government’s budget has laid out bold initiatives aimed at industrial transformation, infrastructure expansion, and job creation.
Mr. Gadzanku added that the budget also presents new tax structures, fiscal tightening, and policy shifts that require careful analysis and responsive strategies.From its ambitious 24-hour economy agenda to the GH¢10 billion Big Push and sweeping policy reforms, the budget excites hope while raising deep questions about what is realistically achievable, he noted.
He emphasized that industries are the engines of the economy, and it is through strategic foresight and informed decision-making that they can ensure their competitiveness and resilience.
Mr. Gadzanku was optimistic that the future of Ghana’s industrial sector depends on the decisions industry players take to co-create a productive and seamless path to economic greatness.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, said the allocation of GH¢13.85 billion for infrastructure development will strengthen the foundation for industrial expansion. Undoubtedly, this will significantly bolster the efforts of industry stakeholders across various sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
The Minister added that the emphasis on agro-processing, to transform agricultural produce and resources from mere potential into viable commercial opportunities, will ensure that wealth is retained within the country. According to her, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana is embarking on an ambitious economic recovery path, which includes the introduction of a 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Mrs. Awatey said the government is dedicated to creating a stable macroeconomic environment, aiming to reduce inflation to 11.9% and strengthen the cedi through effective exchange rate management strategies.