weighted score 4.4 · ten dimensions
Sourcing Attractiveness Index · ten dimensions
Ghana
Labour cost, supply base depth, logistics infrastructure, trade access, and innovation scores for Ghana as a sourcing destination.
Labour cost competitiveness
7
Ghanaian wages remain competitive for agricultural and light manufacturing. Daily minimum wage is low by global standards, though skilled labour costs are rising in Accra and Tema.
Supply base depth
3
Supply base is narrow — concentrated in cocoa, gold, and oil. Manufacturing ecosystem is shallow with limited tier-2 and tier-3 supplier networks outside extractive industries.
Logistics & infrastructure
4
Tema port expansion improved capacity. Road network outside Accra–Tema corridor is variable. Rail infrastructure is limited. Inland logistics add cost and time for non-coastal sourcing.
Workforce skills
4
Growing graduate pool from Ghanaian universities. English-speaking workforce is an advantage. Technical and vocational skills remain a gap for advanced manufacturing.
Scalability
6
Cocoa and gold have established scale. For manufactured goods, scaling is constrained by limited industrial infrastructure and supplier ecosystem depth.
Ease of doing business
4
Ghana is considered one of West Africa's more business-friendly environments. Bureaucratic processes and land tenure complexity remain challenges. Regulatory framework is improving but enforcement can be inconsistent.
Trade access & tariffs
3
EU EPA provides duty-free access — a significant advantage. AGOA eligibility gives preferential US access. AfCFTA headquarters located in Accra, signalling regional trade integration commitment.
Sustainability baseline
4
Deforestation driven by cocoa expansion and galamsey (illegal mining) is a major environmental concern. Renewable energy share is moderate (hydro from Akosombo). ESG audit infrastructure is developing.
Innovation & IP
5
Emerging tech ecosystem in Accra. R&D investment is low as a share of GDP. Patent activity is minimal. Innovation concentrated in fintech and digital services rather than manufacturing.
Quality standards
4
Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) quality control is well-established for cocoa exports. Manufacturing quality systems are less mature. ISO certification penetration is low outside multinational operations.
Cocoa, Gold & Natural Resources
Cocoa, Gold & Natural Resources
- Cocoa production
- Ghana is the world's #2 cocoa producer after Côte d'Ivoire, accounting for approximately 15–20% of global output. The cocoa sector is the backbone of agricultural exports and a major employer in the Ashanti, Western, and Eastern regions.
- Gold mining
- Ghana is Africa's largest gold producer and among the global top ten. Large-scale operators (Newmont, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti) coexist with a substantial artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. Gold is the country's single largest export by value.
- Other exports
- Oil and gas production from the Jubilee and TEN fields (offshore Cape Three Points) has contributed to export diversification since 2010. Manganese, bauxite, and timber are secondary mineral and resource exports.
Trade Access & Infrastructure
Trade Access & Infrastructure
- EU EPA
- Ghana ratified the EU–West Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (interim EPA), providing duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for goods originating in Ghana. This gives Ghana a significant tariff advantage over non-EPA competitors for EU-bound supply chains.
- Tema port
- Tema Port, east of Accra, is Ghana's primary commercial port. The Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3 expansion (completed 2020) added deep-water berth capacity and modern container handling, significantly improving turnaround times and vessel accommodation.
- Growing tech sector
- Accra has emerged as a West African technology hub, with Google's first Africa AI research centre located in the city. A growing fintech and digital services ecosystem is developing, though manufacturing depth remains limited relative to Asian competitors.