The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has warned that a lack of coordination and information sharing among state institutions is undermining the region’s economic potential and could be costing it billions of cedis in investment and export opportunities.
He said the “silo mentality” among government agencies was creating unnecessary bottlenecks in the region’s development efforts, denying businesses the coordinated support they needed to thrive and limiting the government’s ability to attract and retain investments.
Mr. Nelson made the remarks when the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, paid a working visit to the Western Region.
The Minister called for a unified approach among state institutions involved in investment promotion, trade, business regulation and regional development, arguing that agencies could achieve far more by sharing information and working towards common objectives.
He cited a situation where the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) registers companies operating in the region without necessarily providing the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) with adequate information about such investments.
According to him, the information gap makes it difficult for the RCC to identify businesses operating in the region and provide the necessary support, particularly when companies encounter challenges involving host communities.
Mr Nelson said the RCC often became aware of such problems only after they had escalated into disputes or crises, when early intervention could have prevented them.
He, therefore, called for a deliberate information-sharing mechanism among state institutions to ensure that the RCC was kept abreast of investments and businesses operating within the region.
The Minister said closer collaboration among state agencies was particularly important as Ghana intensified efforts to reduce its dependence on imports, increase exports and promote local production.
He noted that the Western Region, with its rich natural resources, agricultural potential, industrial base and strategic location, had significant opportunities to contribute to the country’s export drive if institutions worked together effectively.
Non-traditional exports surge
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, disclosed that Ghana’s non-traditional exports increased significantly from US$3.8 billion in 2024 to more than US$5 billion in 2025.
He attributed the growth to increasing efforts to promote Ghanaian products on international markets and expressed optimism that the country could achieve further growth through targeted support for local producers and exporters.
Mr Arthur outlined GEPA’s “One District, One Exportable Product” initiative, which seeks to identify products with export potential in each district and connect producers to international markets.
He said the initiative was intended to transform local economic potential into sustainable export opportunities while creating jobs and generating foreign exchange for the country.
He also announced plans to establish a joint office in the Western North Region to accommodate GEPA and other relevant government agencies.
The move, he said, was aimed at improving institutional collaboration, eliminating duplication of efforts and bringing export and business support services closer to producers and entrepreneurs.
Mr Arthur stressed that stronger collaboration among government institutions was essential to achieving Ghana’s export ambitions, particularly at the regional and district levels.
The development comes at a time when government is seeking to expand the country’s export base, promote value addition and create more opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to compete in international markets.
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