- Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, calls for urgent AGOA renewal during U.S. meetings
- Ghana’s delegation included Ambassador Jane Gasu Ahemtor, Dr. Mary Awusi, and Abdul Razak
- The meeting addressed challenges posed by U.S. tariffs and the looming expiration of AGOA
Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has strongly advocated for the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) during high-level engagements with senior U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. The discussions aim to protect Ghana’s trade interests amid mounting global trade tensions.
The meeting, held on Monday, June 9, 2025, comes against the backdrop of the U.S.’s “America First” trade policy and the imposition of 10% tariffs on international imports, which are increasingly affecting African exporters, including those from Ghana.
Minister Ofosu-Adjare led a Ghanaian delegation comprising Ambassador Jane Gasu Ahemtor, Acting Head of Mission; Dr. Mary Awusi, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority; and Abdul Razak, Deputy CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.
Representing the U.S. side were Thomas Bruns, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, and Giancarlo Cavallo, a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa.
The dialogue focused on urgent trade policy issues and strategies to maintain the strong economic partnership between Ghana and the United States. Central to the talks was the impending expiration of AGOA in September 2025, and the need for its renewal to sustain African access to U.S. markets.
