Ghana must shift from simply attracting capital to securing productive investments that expand local production, create quality jobs, transfer technology and boost exports, the Ghana Free Zones Authority has said.

Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority’s 2025 Annual Investment Report, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Latif Abdul Oduro, said the focus of investment promotion must increasingly move beyond attracting capital to attracting investments that create productive capacity and quality jobs.

“The focus of investment promotion must increasingly move beyond attracting capital to attracting productive investments that create productive capacity, generate quality jobs, transfer technology, develop global businesses.”

Latif Abdul Oduro continued  that industrialisation and export development must remain at the centre of Ghana’s investment strategy, particularly through investments in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, light manufacturing and ICT.

“Industrialisation and export development must remain at the centre of Ghana’s investment strategy,” he said.

He also called for stronger links between foreign investors and Ghanaian businesses to ensure local enterprises benefit from investments through technology transfer and skills development.

“Stronger links between foreign investors and local enterprises can promote local sources of technology transfer and skills development,” he emphasised.

Latif Abdul Oduro further stressed that access to international markets alone is not enough, saying Ghanaian enterprises must be able to compete on quality, cost and reliability.

“Our enterprises must be able to compete on quality, cost and reliability with international markets,” he asserted.

He added that the ultimate goal should be to ensure that investment translates into tangible economic benefits for Ghana.

“We can translate investment statistics into practice, productive enterprises, jobs, technology, increased export and sustainable development,”