The Logistics Managers Index is a tool CARISCA researchers created to support decision-makers and improve businesses and livelihoods in Africa. By measuring combinations of inventory, warehouse and transportation activities and tracking the relationship between these variables, the LMI provides a timely measure of movement in logistics activities in Ghana.
The Ghana LMI, launched in 2022, is the first of its kind in Africa and a significant step toward supply chain efficiency, visibility and transparency in the country. LMI researchers have released reports since 2022. Since its inception, the Ghana Logistics Managers index has provided valuable insights about the movement of logistics activities within the country, and it has been well received by top managers in many Ghanaian organizations.
The LMI respondent list has grown steadily from the initial 130 managers in 2022 to 232 in 2025.
Key findings from the 2025 first-quarter LMI report include:
- Ghana’s LMI for Q1 2025 declined slightly to 63.5 from 66.8 in Q4 2024, signaling slower, but still positive growth in logistics activity.
- The slowdown reflects reduced growth across all metrics, especially inventory levels, which fell to 60.2 due to high business costs, limited liquidity, and cedi depreciation.
- Lower inventories contributed to slower expansion in warehousing and transportation capacity and utilization.
- Logistics costs remain high but are growing more slowly, with aggregate costs declining from 261.5 to 240.1.
- Outlook remains steady, with logistics activity expected to grow over the next 12 months (forecast LMI: 66.2).
- Electronic payments strengthened, as the EPI rose to 76.1, reflecting increased fintech adoption in the logistics sector.
Key findings from the 2025 second-quarter LMI report include:
- Ghana’s LMI for Q2 2025 fell to 57.9, down from 63.5 in Q1, marking the lowest level recorded since the index began, largely due to a sharp slowdown in logistics cost growth.
- Logistics costs declined drastically, with inventory costs, warehousing prices, and transportation prices all reaching historic lows, driving the sharp drop in the overall index.
- The decline in costs is linked to cedi appreciation, supported by the operations of the Goldboard, and lower global fuel prices.
- Aggregate logistics costs fell significantly from 240.1 to 165.9, the lowest level in the index’s history.
- Lower costs encouraged strong growth in inventory levels, which rose to 74.2, the highest value ever recorded by the LMI.
- Warehousing activity improved, with utilization increasing sharply, while capacity remained largely stable.
- Transportation capacity and utilization expanded, despite transportation prices falling below the 50 threshold.
- Outlook remains cautiously positive, with logistics activity expected to grow steadily over the next 12 months (forecast LMI: 60.6).
- The Electronic Payment System Index (EPI) rose to 78.8, reflecting strong and growing adoption of digital payments in the logistics sector, with further growth expected.