The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, has raised concerns over new 10% U.S. tariff on Ghanaian exports, warning that the measure could erode Ghana’s trade competitiveness, particularly in comparison to Côte d’Ivoire, which faces a lower rate of 6%.
Dr. Ayim-Darke described the tariff disparity as a threat to regional trade balance and a potential setback for cocoa sector collaboration between Ghana and its West African neighbors.
“A 4% difference may seem marginal, but it can significantly distort trade flows and investor confidence, hence we’re working with Côte d’Ivoire to harmonize our export approach to ensure fair value for farmers and protect long-term gains,” he said.
He urged policymakers to resist short-term thinking, cautioning that accepting the current tariff structure could backfire. “What seems beneficial now could work against us in the near future,” he added.
Dr. Ayim-Darke also highlighted the 90-day grace period before the tariff is implemented as a critical window for Ghana to engage diplomatically and forge a regional response.
Beyond trade competitiveness, he pointed to the broader macroeconomic risks, saying that with over half of Ghana’s government revenue tied to trade, any disruption in cocoa exports, which is already weakened by challenges like illegal mining, could strain the national budget.
“A blow to cocoa revenue affects everything from fiscal planning and exchange rates to borrowing costs and remittances, hence, “poorly managing this situation could force tighter monetary policy, drive up interest rates, and weaken the cedi further, he said.
He called for urgent, coordinated action to safeguard Ghana’s economic stability and maintain West Africa’s collective strength in global commodity markets.
