AGI president criticises weak local content implementation amid new U.S. tariffs

Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has raised concerns about Ghana’s vulnerability to global economic shocks, citing the weak implementation of the country’s local content policy.

In an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, he warned that despite years of advocacy for local empowerment and industrialization, little has changed structurally in the economy.

He pointed to the new 10% U.S. tariff on Ghanaian exports, including cocoa, as a consequence of insufficient local manufacturing capacity.

Dr. Ayim-Darke criticized the lack of enforcement of local content laws and the failure to capitalize on opportunities, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to boost local industries. He called for a serious re-evaluation of economic strategies to address ongoing challenges.