"Industry improved but remains constrained" - Government Statistician

The Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, has provided a detailed assessment of Ghana’s industrial sector, noting that although the sector recorded some improvement, it continues to face significant constraints that could limit its contribution to overall economic growth.

Presenting the latest data, Dr. Iddrisu explained that the industry sector grew by 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025, a notable increase from the marginal 0.3% growth recorded in the same period in 2024.

This, he said, reflects a gradual recovery within parts of the sector, particularly in manufacturing and energy.

However, he was quick to caution that the gains remain fragile.

According to him, the overall performance of the sector was heavily weighed down by a sharp contraction in oil and gas production, which declined by 16.8% during the period under review.

This downturn significantly offset the positive contributions from other industrial sub-sectors.

Dr. Iddrisu highlighted that manufacturing emerged as a key bright spot, expanding by 6.1%, driven by increased production activities and demand in certain segments of the economy.

Similarly, the electricity sub-sector recorded a growth of 7.2%, reflecting improvements in power generation and supply stability.

Despite these positive developments, he stressed that the industrial sector’s growth remains uneven and vulnerable to external and structural shocks, particularly those affecting extractive industries such as oil, gas, and mining.

He further explained that the continued underperformance of the oil and gas sub-sector underscores the need for targeted policy interventions, investment in efficiency, and diversification within the industry space.

Strengthening value addition, improving infrastructure, and enhancing productivity in manufacturing will be critical to reducing overreliance on volatile extractive resources.

Dr. Iddrisu emphasized that a more resilient and balanced industrial sector is essential for sustaining Ghana’s broader economic growth, especially as the country increasingly relies on non-oil sectors to drive expansion.

He concluded that while the recent figures point to a modest rebound, deliberate and sustained efforts will be required to address the structural bottlenecks hindering the sector and unlock its full potential.

Story by: Hawa Abubakar