President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to grow Ghana’s non-traditional export earnings from $3.5billion annually to at least $10 billion annually by 2030
He said this will be achieved through value addition, industrial expansion, and fixing long-standing trade bottlenecks.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Accelerated Export Development Advisory Committee (AEDAC) in Accra on Monday, the president noted that Ghana’s export sector faces major challenges, with 47% of exporters struggling with delays, high costs, and excessive paperwork.
“An exporter may need up to 16 different documents just to get a certificate of origin.”
“These inefficiencies cost Ghana $4.3 billion in lost export revenue every year, according to the International Trade Center,” he said.
To address these problems, the president stated that the government will modernize ports, revamp the Volta Lake Transport Company, and complete key projects like the Mpakadan and Boankra inland ports.
He said these improvements will cut logistics costs, which are currently among the highest in West Africa.
Beyond physical goods, the president emphasized that Ghana will expand into digital services, creative content, and knowledge-based exports.
“Our future exports will not just be about cocoa and gold. We must also sell our innovations to the world,” he stressed.
To encourage local production, the government will introduce performance-based tax rebates, faster certification for exporters, and grants for businesses scaling up.
“We want a Ghana that earns more than it borrows. A Ghana that processes more than it exports raw” the president said.
The newly inaugurated AEDAC chaired by President John Dramani Mahama will oversee these reforms, working with agencies like GEPA and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure implementation.
Members of the committee are Hon. Goosie Tanoh, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Hon Elizabeth Agyare, Hon Emelia Arthur, Hon Eric Opoku, Hon Dominic Ayine, Gen. Paul Seidu Tanye- Kulono, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, and Gerald Nyarko Mensah.
Others include Dr Eben Anuwa-Armah, Dr Akushika Andoh, Kwesi Korboe, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, Davies Narh, Dr Humphrey Darkeh, Jacob Ainoo Ansah, Gabriel Opoku Asare and Prof John Gatsi.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
