Ministry of Trade & Industry

The Division is responsible for evolving and coordinating policies and programmes for the development of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as ancillaries to large manufacturing industries through business development services (BDS) including access to finance and adoption of modern technology.

Functions:

• Formulate policies with inputs from relevant agencies of the Ministry to provide business development services(BDS) to promote sustainable operations of SMEs
• Review proposals from SMEs for startup, growth and expansion of their businesses
• Support and facilitate access to credit for SMEs
• Facilitate access to appropriate technology for SMEs to enhance their global competitiveness
• Promote the adoption of Science, Technology and Innovative practices by SMEs
• Make available timely and useful information to SMEs to enhance their operations
• Collaborate with the Ministry’s Regional Offices and Agencies to monitor the activities of SMEs in the districts and offer the necessary support services.

Investment Promotion & Finance Unit

• Collaborate with the Public-Private Partnership(PPA) Secretariat at MOF to promote investment
• Collaborate with various MDA’s involved in the establishment of industries in the country
• Study and review proposals of potential local and foreign investors in the manufacturing and creative industries
• Identify potential areas for investment in under developed Regions as a means of promoting equitable distribution of income and improvement of livelihoods
• Facilitate access to long term credit for retooling

Entrepreneurship Development Unit

• Promote Entrepreneurship Development Programmes to stimulate interest in entrepreneurship particularly among unemployed or economically inactive young people
• Facilitate the development of Institutional and Industry Partnership Programmes
• Provide business development services to entrepreneurs
• Facilitate the development and establishment of business incubators.
• Facilitate on-the-job training in collaboration with industry
• Promote investments in entrepreneurship and management training and educational programmes.

Creative Industry Unit

• Collaborate with the relevant institutions in the formulation and development of policies and programmes for the development of the creative industry
• Facilitate the development of a National Craft Marketing Strategy for both domestic and export markets
• Identify and promote investments in creative arts with high potential to enhance job creation
• Stimulate the development of local talents through training and other activities in collaboration with relevant institutions
• Facilitate the establishment of film and publishing cluster aimed at fostering collaboration across the value chain to develop the sector.
• Liaise with relevant institutions to facilitate the establishment and strengthening of the Intellectual Property Office
• Stimulate linkages with other economic sectors
• Facilitate networking of creative industries in the country
• Liaise with relevant institutions to promote research and development (R&D) in the creative industry.

The objective of the Division is to ensure that Value Systems are well established and also facilitate the development of logistics service markets. The Division coordinates the activities of MDA’s and the Private Sector to build credible database on logistics and value chain management in Ghana.

Functions:

• Lead the formulation of policies, develop plans and programmes that will drive the development of logistics and value chain management in the trade and Industry sector
• Initiate and develop relevant policies and programmes that will engender the development of industrial estates in Ghana
• Collaborate with other relevant MDAs to develop strategic plans to stimulate infrastructure development for industry

Logistics Unit

• Lead the formulation of policies and strategies for efficient logistics service delivery
• Develop logistics plans to facilitate movement of goods and services within and across borders
• Liaise with relevant MDA’s to establish logistics parks
• Collaborate with relevant MDAs to prepare legal and regulatory framework to ensure the provision of efficient, convenient, transparent and integrated electronic logistics services environment for business and industry

Value Chain Unit

• Lead the formulation of strategies and programmes to drive value chain development
• Develop chain models for strategic planning and decision making by industry
• Evaluate and update commodity value chains
• Conduct chain audits to assess cost drivers
• Link up with research institutions for information on available technologies and innovations to help promote the development of commodity value chains

Industrial Estates Unit

• Formulate plans and programmes for the development of industrial estates
• Collate information on available land banks for industrial estate development
• Liaise with relevant MDA’s to prepare and update industrial development protocols and profiles for use by prospective investors
• Facilitate institutional support for the development of industrial estates

Infrastructure Unit

• Liaise with relevant MDAs to develop strategic plans and programmes to stimulate infrastructure development for industry
• Initiate programmes that will encourage fair spatial distribution of industries
• Liaise with relevant MDAs to develop support systems for industrial infrastructure

The Division is responsible for providing strategic directions for the Manufacturing sector. It is also to provide sector-specific interventions to promote value-addition.

Functions:

• Work with other MDAs to encourage the production of raw materials for industrial production
• Promote value-addition and increase employment and growth along the supply chain.
• Monitor the operations of manufacturing enterprises with dominant market positions and advice on how to mitigate the effect of collusion and price fixing to the detriment of consumers
• Conduct audit on existing infrastructural facilities to identify gaps to inform policy
• Facilitate regulatory and policy initiatives for efficient and effective use of infrastructure in manufacturing (cleaner production)
• Prepare and implement capacity building programmes in the management of infrastructure services in industry
• Ensure availability of essential common facilities such as laboratories, quality certification centres, cold storage facilities, etc in industrial estates.
• Facilitate the provision of incentives on a scientific basis to support the manufacturing sector.
• Liaise with relevant institutions to provide affordable credit to the manufacturing sector.
• Monitor national, global and regional trends in the various sectors and provide advisory services to the manufacturing sector.

Agro/Agri Business Unit
The Unit is responsible for the facilitation and promotion of the following agro processing industries:

• Cassava Starch, Food and Beverages, Sugar, Cotton, Leather, Paper, Wood, Rubber, Bamboo and Oil Palm

Non-Agro Unit
The Unit is responsible for the facilitation and promotion of non-agro processing industries including the following:

• Cosmetics, Metals, Non-metallic Mineral Products, Electrical & Electronics, Vehicle Assembly, Pharmaceuticals, Plastics, Iodized Salt

Technology and Innovation Unit

• Promote the use of appropriate technology and Research & Development in industry
• Promote the adoption of standard operating procedures to improve SMEs global competitiveness
• Promote continuous business processes re-engineering in industry to enhance productivity
• Facilitate stronger collaboration between academia, research institutions and industry
• Promote the development of Industrial Clusters
• Promote the manufacture of Capital Goods to support industry
• Facilitate technology transfer

Industrial Manpower Development Unit

• Liaise with Business Management Organizations (BMOs) to determine the skills gaps and training requirements of industry.
• Liaise with training institutions to provide adequate and requisite manpower needs of industry.
• Formulate policies to address the manpower needs of industry including incentives.

Oil and Gas Unit

• Review project profiles for integrated petrochemical industry
• Facilitate the provision of facilities for development of the salt industry
• Promote the production of industrial salt for export and local utilization
• Develop a framework to promote the development of new industries in the downstream petrochemical sector
• Promote effective utilization of local content in the petrochemical industry

The Standards Division is responsible for the streamlining, coordination and operationalisation of the National Quality Infrastructure and Technical Regulations.

Functions:

• Ensure that standards institutions in Ghana are strengthened to become internationally competitive.
• Ensure that technical as well as sanitary and phyto-sanitary regulations do not constrain the export potentials of Ghana
• Provide timely information on SPS/TBT requirements to exporters to ensure compliance
• Provide internationally recognized evaluation and certification to ensure effective quality controls
• Ensure that domestic and imported goods conform to national health, phyto- sanitary, safety, environmental and technical standards.
• Establish quality infrastructure to improve local and export trade
• Ensure the training of manufacturers on SPS/TBT

Voluntary Standards and Technical Regulations Unit

• Collaborate with GSA to monitor the use of voluntary standards in industry
• Facilitate the harmonization of standards across the sub region in line with the West African Quality Policy
• In collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, monitor and educate producers and exporters on National, International and Private Standards (proprietary standards)
• Collaborate with GSA to promote industry inclusiveness in the formulation of Standards

Quality Promotion Unit

• Lead the formulation and review of National Quality Policies
• Promote and monitor the development and use of Private Standards
• Promote and monitor the development and use of Trading Standards
• Promote the adoption of Management Systems (Occupational Health Quality, Food safety & Environment)
• Promote consumer safety in collaboration with Consumer Associations and the Media

Technical Regulations and Specifications Unit

• Develop and promote a harmonized system of formulating Technical regulations
• Operationalize the National Notification Authority for Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) and ensure prompt notification of measures
• Facilitate the development of trade-related health, safety and environmental regulations
• Collaborate with GSA and GEPA and other relevant institutions to educate exporters and importers on technical requirements of trading partners<
• Facilitate the improvement of conformity assessment procedures and bodies
• Lead the development of equivalence agreements with trading partners
• Provide technical input for SPS and TBT sections in all trade negotiations and agreements.

Metrology Unit

• Develop and promote the use of legal metrology regulations
• Educate and enforce the use of legal metrology regulations
• Collaborate with GSA to promote Industrial metrology to improve quality
• Facilitate the establishment and development of a National Metrology Institute