Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports Hit $5.006 Billion as Government Pushes Economic Diversification
Ghana has recorded a significant boost in its non-traditional export sector, with earnings reaching $5.006 billion in 2025, up from $3.08 billion in 2024, representing an increase of over 30 percent.
This was disclosed at the official launch of the 2025 Non-Traditional Exports Statistics Report by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) held at the African Trade House in Accra on Friday, 17th April, 2026.
Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, highlighted the steady growth of Ghana’s non-traditional exports, noting that Ghanaian products are increasingly gaining acceptance in international markets.
He emphasized that the sector continues to demonstrate resilience and strong potential for expansion.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, commended the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry for her performance. She underscored the vast potential within the non-traditional export sector, noting that Ghana is increasingly shifting from raw material exports to value-added production. She added that the report will serve as a critical tool for both importers and exporters in making informed business decisions.
In her address, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, stressed the importance of export diversification as a cornerstone of Ghana’s economic transformation. She observed that Ghana’s export earnings have historically relied heavily on gold, crude oil, and cocoa, which together accounted for over 70 percent of total merchandise exports as recently as 2023.
According to the Minister, non-traditional exports now account for approximately 16 percent of total merchandise exports, with Africa contributing 30.36 percent of earnings largely driven by trade within the ECOWAS sub-region. She described this as a positive sign of Ghana’s growing competitiveness within regional markets and the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She further noted that sustained export growth would depend on improving production capacity, ensuring quality standards, enhancing access to finance, and addressing institutional bottlenecks. The Minister emphasized government’s commitment to working closely with key institutions, including the Ghana EXIM Bank and the Ghana Standards Authority, to drive value addition, industrial competitiveness, and market expansion.
Highlighting the importance of linking agriculture to industry, she pointed to the Feed the Industry Programme as a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening raw material supply for agro-processing and manufacturing.
The Minister also called on exporters, manufacturers, and financial institutions to play their respective roles in accelerating export growth, emphasizing that increased value addition would lead to higher job creation, stronger industrial capacity, and improved foreign exchange earnings.
She concluded by describing the report as both a record of progress and a guide for future action, commending GEPA and Ghanaian exporters for their continued contribution to strengthening the country’s presence in global markets.
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