Agriculture recovery in 2025 was encouraging but uneven, industrial slowdown highlights broader development – ISSER
In its 2025 State of the Ghana Economy Report (SGER), ISSER said expanding effective irrigation, mechanisation and extension services, with greater attention to crop yields will raise agricultural productivity.
Ghana's agricultural recovery in 2025 was promising, yet uneven, according to the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER). To sustain growth, the institute recommends enhancing productivity, market infrastructure, and policy implementation. In its 2025 State of the Ghana Economy Report (SGER), ISSER highlights that expanding effective irrigation, mechanization, and extension services could boost agricultural productivity.
It also stresses the importance of improving storage, processing, transport, and market access to reduce post-harvest losses and increase producer returns, thereby strengthening markets and value chains. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Ghana's food security, rural livelihoods, and agro-industrial development, and stronger agricultural growth can improve food availability and support economic activity. However, ISSER warns that aggregate growth may mask weaknesses in individual commodities.
In the industrial sector, Ghana's slowdown in 2025 underscores the need to convert the mineral sector's strength into broader industrial development. This requires fostering competitive manufacturing and increasing domestic value addition. ISSER advocates for an industry that leverages the mineral sector's power into broader industrial development, bolstered by competitive manufacturing and enhanced domestic value addition.
Regarding policy priorities, ISSER emphasizes the need to boost manufacturing competitiveness by lowering production and financing costs, enhancing infrastructure, and supporting investment in value addition. Additionally, the research institute calls for improved energy security and efficiency by addressing weaknesses in the electricity sector, strengthening domestic gas supply, and expanding renewable energy sources.
As for the services sector, ISSER underscores its growing significance for Ghana's economic growth, employment, and structural transformation. Modern services like ICT, finance, and logistics can enhance overall productivity across the economy. Meanwhile, education and healthcare play a crucial role in human capital development.
However, ISSER cautions that rapid growth in services does not guarantee productive employment or improved service delivery. Therefore, the quality, accessibility, and productivity of services are equally vital as their expansion.
Written by urgent.news from Joy Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
