In the immediate post-Independence era, Ghana embarked on an import-substitution industrialization policy with the active involvement of the state. The development of the manufacturing sector was thus spearheaded by the State with support from multi-national companies such as UAC, and a few emerging Lebanese and Indian industrialists.
However, some nationals felt that the sustained growth of industries in Ghana would depend on the development and active participation of local industrialists.
Consequently, in 1957, a small group of about 7–10 indigenous Ghanaian Industrialists came together to form the Federation of Ghana Industries, led by the indefatigable Dr. (Mrs) Esther Ocloo of Nkulenu Industries Limited who became the first President.
The other pioneers included Rev T.A. Adjetey, Mr. Alfred Gaisie, Mr. J.A. Brenyah, Mr. K.A. Agbemabiasie, Mr. David K. Ziga, Mr. K.J. Khubchandani and others. The objective then was to protect the interest of the emerging indigenous manufacturers.
In 1961, realizing that all Ghana manufacturing companies faced a common destiny irrespective of ownership, the base of the Federation was broadened to embrace both the state-owned and foreign-owned manufacturing industries. The name of the Association was therefore changed to Ghana Manufacturers’ Association (GMA).
In 1984, the need for all sectors of industry to be under one umbrella was considered desirable. The Association’s Constitution was therefore amended to admit to membership companies whose services impinge on manufacturing, namely, financial institutions, insurance companies and specialized associations such as Liquor Manufacturers' Association of Ghana, Ghana Printers & Paper Converters’ Association, Furniture & Wood Products’ Association of Ghana, Ghana Timber Millers’ Organization, Advertising Association of Ghana, etc, as Associate Members. The name of the Association was accordingly changed to the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
The Association offered the following services, among others:·
Policy Advocacy and Advisory·
Industrial Sub-contracting & Partnership· Information Gathering, Analysis and Dissemination·
Business Plan Preparation and Development·
Trade Promotion
The chronology of the Presidency of the Federation\Association is as follows:
Year
1957 – 1961
1961 – 1965
1965 – 1968
1968 – 1969
1969 – 1971
1971 – 1973
1973 – 1975
1975 – 1978
1978 – 1980
1980 – 1986
1987 – 1993
1994 – 1999
1999 – 2001
2001 – 2003
2003 – 2005
2006 – 2009
2010 – 2013
2014 – 2017
2018 – 2021
2022 – 2025
2026 – Date
Name of President
Dr. (Mrs) Esther Ocloo
Mr. Alfred Gaisie
Mr. Myles C. Hagan
Mr. E. Acquaah-Harrison
Mr. C. C. K. Baah
Mr. Alfred Gaisie
Dr. (Mrs) Esther Ocloo
Mr. J. K. RocksonDr.
(Mrs) Esther Ocloo
Mr. A. Appiah-Menka
Dr. John Kobina Richardson
Dr. Justice Atta Addison
Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson
Mrs Elizabeth Joyce Villars
Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson
Dr. Tony Oteng-GyasiNana
Dr. Owusu-Afari
Mr. James Asare-Adjei
Dr. Yaw Adu Gyamfi
Dr. Humphrey Kwesi Ayim-Darke
Pharm. Kofi Nsiah Poku
Name of Company
Nkulenu Industries Limited
Gaisie (W/A) Limited
Lever Brothers Ghana Limited
Obonoma Packaging Limited
Economic Industries Limited
Gaisie (W/A) Limited
Nkulenu Industries Limited
Super Blades & Metals Mfg. Ltd
Nkulenu Industries Limited
Appiah-Menka Complex Limited
Pioneer Tobacco Company Ltd
Multiwall Paper Sacks (W/A) Ltd
Kludjeson International Limited
Camelot Ghana Limited
Kludjeson International Limited
Tropical Cable & Conductor Ltd
Afariwaa Group of Companies
Asadtek Group of Companies
Danadams
Redmoon Ree.
Kinapharma Limited
The following personalities gave of their time, intellect and energy to shape the destiny of the Association:
· Mr. S. N. K. Ocloo, husband of late Dr. (Mrs) Esther Ocloo, became the first Honorary Secretary of the Federation;·
Mr. F. Bannerman-Menson doubled as the Executive Director of Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) and part-time Executive Secretary of Ghana Manufacturers’ Association (GMA);
· Mr. Kwame Pianim was made available to the Federation/Association by his employers, Ghana Aluminium Products Limited (GHANAL), as Honorary Economic Consultant, to write policy papers for the Association;
· Mr. Eddie Imbeah-Amoakuh joined the Association in 1972 as the first full-time Assistant Executive Secretary and later became the Executive Secretary. He worked for over 27 years until his retirement in 1999.
