Following the government’s pledge to waive taxes on agro-processing machinery, the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana has urged immediate action to fulfill its promise or risk derailing what it called a “positive step toward achieving machinery sufficiency.”
While applauding the Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Sampson Ahi’s announcement of an import duty waiver for agri-processing machinery as a “positive step,” the Chamber emphasized that the “true measure of success will lie in its timely and effective implementation.” The deputy minister made the announcement at the Regional Agribusiness Dialogue in Sunyani.
In a strongly worded statement released on October 14, 2025, co-signed by the CEO of the Chamber and the Agribusiness Policy and Research Advisory, the Chamber laid out a four-point, non-negotiable plan for implementing the waiver to promote agribusiness in Ghana.
“The realignment of the ministry to include ‘Agribusiness’ was a symbolic first step. These announced actions represent the tangible policies needed to give that change meaning. We now urge the government to swiftly translate these announcements into actionable legislation and concrete programs,” part of the statement read.
The Chamber underscored that this intervention is crucial for stimulating investment, enhancing productivity, and improving competitiveness across Ghana’s agribusiness value chains, emphasizing that it should not be delayed. The policy, they argued, should be prioritized.
As such, the Chamber urged the government to expedite the implementation of the tax waiver, calling for a clear timeline and statutory instrument to give legal weight to the relief. Without this, they warned, the announcement would remain nothing more than an unfulfilled promise, unable to spur the desired investment.
Given the ongoing challenge of access to finance, the Chamber also called on the government to go beyond the waiver by allocating sufficient funds and technical support to local manufacturers, like the GRATIS Foundation. This, they noted, is vital for building local capacity to manufacture machinery, reduce the import bill, and prevent local manufacturers from closing due to a lack of resources.
However, the Chamber also urged the government to ensure the policy is shaped by the “specific and practical inputs” of farmers and processors from all regions, to ground the policy in reality.
“We believe that through sustained dialogue and a shared commitment to execution, we can collectively reset Ghana’s agribusiness sector, drive sustainable industrial growth, and secure a more prosperous future for all Ghanaians,” the Chamber stated.
In support of the national fight against illegal mining, the Chamber declared that ending galamsey “should be among the top priorities” in any policy aimed at revitalizing agribusiness, linking the reclamation of farmland and water bodies to the sector’s long-term viability.
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana is the leading advocate for agribusiness in Ghana, championing policies that promote a sustainable, profitable, and food-secure nation.
