Ghana is looking to use the government’s 24-hour economy programme to turn horticulture into a stronger export industry by connecting farmers to greenhouses, cold storage, logistics, processing facilities and international markets.
Presidential Advisor on the 24-hour Economy, Augustus “Goosie” Obuadum Tanoh, said the strategy is aimed at moving agriculture beyond simply producing crops to building complete value chains capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and generating foreign exchange.
“Producing is not the same as building an industry,” Mr Tanoh said at the opening of the 14th Ghana Garden and Flower Show.
He explained that the government’s approach under the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme is to connect production with processing, logistics and markets while creating the infrastructure needed for industries such as flowers to become commercially competitive.
One of the major areas of focus is infrastructure. Under the Shiqpon peri-urban agricultural programme, greenhouse and micro-irrigated production is expected to be linked to aggregation centres, cold storage facilities and markets.
For horticultural products such as flowers, fruits and vegetables, the availability of cold storage and efficient transportation is particularly important because delays between harvesting and delivery can quickly reduce the quality and value of the products.
The proposed Tamale Air Cargo Hub is also expected to support the development of high-value agricultural exports from northern Ghana.
Mr Tanoh said the hub would strengthen logistics for cut flowers, vegetables and fruits, allowing producers to access markets beyond Ghana.
Government is also working with a private investor on a proposed cut-flower corridor along the Daboya-Singa pathway. Flowers produced along the corridor are expected to be transported through Tamale for export to Europe, the Gulf, other parts of Africa and the domestic market.
The government believes the development of the horticulture industry could create jobs far beyond farming, including opportunities in greenhouse construction, packaging, warehousing, transport, aviation, food processing, freight forwarding and distribution.
Mr Tanoh pointed to Kenya as an example of what Ghana could potentially achieve, noting that the country earned about US$556 million from flower exports last year. Ghana, meanwhile, exported approximately US$75 million worth of mangoes to 42 markets in 2024.
He said Ghana already has products with international demand but needs stronger coordination between production, storage, transportation and markets to compete effectively.
The domestic market could also provide an important starting point for local producers.
Mr Tanoh noted that Ghana imports roses for occasions such as Valentine’s Day despite having the potential to produce flowers locally.
“On Valentine’s Day, we import roses from all over the place to be able to give to our loved ones. So we do have a domestic market. We do have domestic demand,” he said.
Developing that market could give local growers the opportunity to build production capacity, improve quality standards and gain experience before expanding into larger export markets.
However, experts and industry players will still have to contend with the high cost of transporting perishable products by air. For Ghana to compete, exporters will need reliable cold-chain systems, quality control, packaging, certification, customs clearance and access to international buyers.
The success of the proposed Tamale Air Cargo Hub will therefore depend on more than having aircraft available. The wider supply chain must be strong enough to ensure that products reach international markets quickly, consistently and at competitive prices.
The government’s proposed Volta Economic Corridor also forms part of the broader plan to link agricultural production with industry and logistics, while promoting renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, efficient use of land and water, and lower waste and emissions.
For private investors, the emerging opportunities could include irrigation technology, cold-chain logistics, warehousing, packaging, agricultural finance, air freight, food processing and digital farming solutions.
But the biggest test will be implementation.
Infrastructure alone will not create a successful export industry. Farmers will need affordable financing, reliable power, quality inputs and technical support, while exporters will require efficient customs procedures and internationally recognised certification.
If these systems are successfully connected, horticulture could become an important part of Ghana’s efforts to diversify exports, reduce dependence on imported agricultural products and create jobs across the value chain.
For the 24-hour economy, the real test will ultimately be whether Ghana can move beyond producing more crops to helping local farmers and businesses consistently deliver high-quality products to competitive international markets
