Ghana’s non-traditional exports have seen a significant surge, with an 11.75% increase in 2023, reaching $3.944 billion, up from $3.531 billion in 2022. According to Osafohene Dr. Afua Asabea Asare I, CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), this growth is attributed to strategic alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and successful export promotion initiatives.
The GEPA’s export school and impact hub have played a crucial role in building capacity for global market trading and manufacturing. These initiatives provide a one-stop-shop for information, technology, and export understanding.
To expand Ghana’s export supply base, GEPA has launched the Coconut Revitalisation Programme. This program has distributed one million disease-tolerant coconut seedlings across 15,625 acres, with an additional 500,000 seedlings expected in 2025. This initiative aims to create 350,000 jobs along the coconut value chain.
Iron and steel products top the list of earners, contributing $447.8 million to the total NTE revenue. Other notable performers include cocoa paste, cashew nuts, and cocoa butter. Agribusiness, manufactured goods, arts and crafts, and services remain primary contributors to NTEs.
The AfCFTA has presented significant opportunities for Ghana’s export industry, accounting for $1.78 billion in NTE earnings in 2023. GEPA is working to position local businesses to capitalize on this single continental market.
In the agricultural sector, GEPA focuses on expanding Ghana’s export supply base. The Coconut Revitalisation Programme is expected to create 350,000 jobs along the coconut value chain.
Dr. Asare emphasizes that the growth in NTEs demonstrates Ghana’s efforts to diversify its economy and promote sustainable development. She assures GEPA’s dedication to supporting Ghanaian exporters and fostering economic growth.
GEPA is committed to empowering women in the export sector through its flagship project, the SheTrades Ghana Hub. This initiative provides women-led businesses with access to international markets.
The SheTrades Ghana Hub serves as a resource center for Ghanaian women entrepreneurs, adopting a three-pronged approach to ensure favorable conditions.
By supporting local businesses and promoting export growth, GEPA aims to drive Ghana’s economic development.
Ghana’s non-traditional export growth is a positive indicator of the country’s economic progress, and GEPA’s initiatives are crucial to sustaining this momentum.
