{
  "id": 19292168,
  "title": "AGI advocates trade policy restrictions for foreign shopping malls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/agi-advocates-trade-policy-restrictions-for-foreign-shopping-malls",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T05:38:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Chronicle Ghana",
    "slug": "the-chronicle-ghana",
    "url": "https://thechronicle.com.gh/agi-advocates-trade-policy-restrictions-for-foreign-shopping-malls/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has urged for stricter trade policies to compel foreign shopping malls in Ghana to reserve a certain percentage of their retail space for locally manufactured goods. Seth Twum Akwaboah, the Chief Executive Officer of AGI, acknowledged that foreign shopping malls have contributed to a more competitive business environment in the country. However, he emphasized the need for a policy framework to ensure that these malls allocate a portion of their shelf space to locally-produced products.\n\nThis recommendation arises from complaints from traders in the Sunyani Central Business District (CBD) who claim that the increasing number of shopping malls, especially those owned by Chinese companies, has put pressure on small-scale retailers, enabling the larger outlets to offer lower prices. Akwaboah stated that while foreign shopping malls' infrastructure is welcome, they must also sell a certain percentage of local products to support Ghana's industrial growth.\n\nThe AGI is hopeful that the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy will prioritize industrial development. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is scheduled to present the budget to Parliament on November 12, 2026. The AGI remains committed to contributing to the government's initiatives, including the 24-hour economy policy and the \"Big Push\" road infrastructure program, by sharing its expertise and advocating for increased resources to support these policies.\n\nTo ensure the success of the 24-hour economy policy, the AGI believes that industries should have access to medium-term development financing to boost production, reduce costs, improve competitiveness, and expand their market share. This, in turn, would reduce imports and create more employment opportunities for Ghanaians. The association also highlighted the high cost of electricity, pointing out that many large-scale industries have experienced tariff increases of over 40%.",
  "summary": "The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has called for a trade policy that requires foreign-owned shopping malls operating in Ghana to allocate a specified percentage of their shelf space to made-in-Ghana products to support local industrial growth. Mr Seth Twum Akwaboah, Chief Executive Officer of the AGI, said the association was not opposed to the […] The post AGI advocates trade policy…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ghana Business News",
        "title": "AGI advocates trade policy restrictions for foreign shopping malls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/agi-advocates-trade-policy-restrictions-for-foreign-shopping-malls",
        "published": "2026-11-09T17:17:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}