The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has urged exporters, manufacturers and financial institutions to support efforts to expand Ghana’s non-traditional export sector.
She said increased value addition can boost jobs, strengthen industry and improve foreign exchange earnings.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Non-Traditional Exports Statistics Report by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority in Accra on Friday, she described the report as a record of progress and a guide for future action.
She commended the Authority and exporters for their role in expanding Ghana’s presence in global markets.
According to the report, earnings from non-traditional exports rose to $5.006 billion in 2025, up from $3.08 billion in 2024.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare noted that export diversification remains central to Ghana’s economic transformation, noting that gold, crude oil and cocoa accounted for more than 70 per cent of total merchandise exports in 2023.
She said non-traditional exports now account for about 16 per cent of total merchandise exports, with Africa contributing 30.36 per cent of earnings, largely driven by trade within the Economic Community of West African States.
She added that this reflects Ghana’s growing competitiveness in regional markets and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The minister stated that sustaining growth would require higher production, adherence to quality standards, improved access to finance and reforms to address institutional constraints.
She affirmed that the government would continue to work with the Ghana EXIM Bank and the Ghana Standards Authority to support value addition and market expansion.
She said the Feed the Industry Programme aims to strengthen the link between agriculture and manufacturing by ensuring a steady supply of raw materials for processing.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, said the growth reflects increasing demand for Ghanaian products on international markets and signals room for further expansion.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
