The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has described Ghanaian traders as the backbone of the nation’s economy.
She made this statement on Friday at the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) Awards held in Accra.
The Minister argued that traders do far more than commerce; they sustain livelihoods and drive national development.
She said the spirit of enterprise, resilience and community was visible in the daily work of GUTA members.
Madam Ofosu-Adjare anchored her remarks on macroeconomic stability, pointing to a dramatic fall in inflation from 22.4% in March 2025 to 3.2% in March 2026.
She said the figures were already translating into more predictable pricing, reduced cost volatility, and stronger business confidence for traders on the ground.
She pledged government action to clear bottlenecks at ports, in customs and across business registration, which are critical to making Ghana a more efficient place to do business.
She also singled out sachet water producers and GUTA members for holding prices steady despite economic pressure, urging them to maintain that discipline in support of the country’s macroeconomic gains.
Madam Ofosu-Adjare called for deeper public-private collaboration in Ghana’s industrialisation agenda for economic transformation. “The good times are ahead,” she said.
The GUTA President, Mr Clement Boateng, reaffirmed his focus on public-private dialogue in policy formulation.
On his part, the former Trade Minister, Alan Kyeremanten, urged GUTA to establish a Traders Bank and explore the creation of Ghana Malls, while leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Adwoa Koramah Anokye-Gyimah, ISD
