‘Silo mentality’ costing Western Region billions -Minister warns

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has cautioned that a lack of cooperation and information exchange between state agencies is stifling the region's economic potential and potentially costing it billions in potential investment and export opportunities. He highlighted the "silo mentality" among government departments as creating unnecessary obstacles in the region's development, denying businesses the comprehensive assistance they require to prosper and limiting the government's capacity to attract and maintain investments.

Speaking during a visit from the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, the Minister emphasized the need for a coordinated strategy among the various state institutions involved in investment promotion, trade regulation, business oversight, and regional development. He argued that by sharing information and working towards shared goals, agencies could achieve far greater outcomes.

Specifically, he pointed out that the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) registers companies operating in the Western Region, but often fails to share this information with the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in a timely manner. This information gap hinders the RCC's ability to identify businesses operating within the region and offer necessary support, especially when firms encounter issues with local communities.

Mr. Nelson stressed the importance of establishing a deliberate system for information sharing among state agencies to ensure that the RCC remains informed about investments and businesses within the region. He noted that closer collaboration among government entities is particularly crucial as Ghana strives to reduce its reliance on imports, boost exports, and foster local production.

The Western Region, with its abundant natural resources, agricultural potential, industrial capacity, and strategic position, possesses significant opportunities to contribute to the country's export efforts if the institutions work together effectively.

Meanwhile, Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, the CEO of GEPA, revealed that Ghana's non-traditional exports surged from US$3.8 billion in 2024 to over US$5 billion in 2025. He credited the growth to intensified efforts to promote Ghanaian products internationally and expressed confidence that further expansion could be achieved through targeted support for local producers and exporters.

Mr. Arthur detailed GEPA's "One District, One Exportable Product" initiative, which aims to identify export potential in each district, connect producers to global markets, and transform local economic potential into sustainable export opportunities while generating jobs and foreign exchange.

Additionally, Mr. Arthur announced plans to establish a joint office in the Western North Region to consolidate GEPA and other pertinent government agencies. This move is intended to enhance institutional collaboration, prevent duplication of efforts, and bring export and business support services closer to producers and entrepreneurs.

He stressed that stronger collaboration among government bodies is vital for achieving Ghana's export objectives, especially at the regional and district levels. The situation reflects the government's broader efforts to expand the country's export base, promote value addition, and create more opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to compete effectively in international markets.