By Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has renewed calls for Ghana to prioritise value addition and industrial growth, urging businesses to transform local resources into globally competitive products.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Heritage Village by Goldbod Jewellery in Accra, she emphasised the need to move beyond the country’s long-standing reliance on raw material exports.
“While Ghana has historically been recognised for producing raw materials, today the national conversation is focusing on adding value, developing enterprises, and promoting industrial growth,” she stated.
The Vice President described the Heritage Village as a strategic platform that brings together Ghanaian brands, manufacturers, and institutions, showcasing innovation, craftsmanship, and production capacity.
“Platforms like Heritage Village will support that transition… This initiative shows that innovation, craftsmanship, and production are fundamental to Ghana’s economic story,” she added.
She commended Goldbod Jewellery Limited for launching the project during Ghana Month, noting that it highlights the importance of promoting value addition within the gold sector.
“Gold has always been one of our most important natural resources and a source of national pride. Initiatives that promote value addition within this sector will strengthen our position in the global economy,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also highlighted the presence of young entrepreneurs and emerging businesses, describing it as a positive sign of growing collaboration between academia and industry.
“Our economy will be driven by individuals and businesses that can turn local resources into products capable of competing confidently in the global market,” she noted.
She urged stakeholders to invest in quality, innovation, and collaboration to strengthen Ghana’s industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Our prosperity lies not only in what we extract, but in what we create, refine, and build,” she emphasised.
The Vice President congratulated the organisers, participants and businesses for a job well done, and officially declared the Heritage Village open.
