Two former Trade Ministers have called for a renewed push toward intra-African trade as a way to protect the country from the economic fallout of new U.S. tariffs on imported goods.
Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Ghana’s Trade Minister from 2014 to 2017, and Mr. Michael Okyere Baafi, who served as Deputy Trade Minister from 2021 to 2024, issued the call after the United States imposed new tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on imports from Ghana and 180 other countries.
Although the decision forms part of a broader protectionist shift in U.S. trade policy, which is aimed at addressing global trade imbalances, it is poised to hit a wide range of Ghanaian exports, including processed cocoa products, textiles, and aluminum.
Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Corporate Finance Awards in Accra, Dr. Spio-Garbrah warned that the tariffs could severely undermine local industries and foreign exchange earnings if alternative markets are not aggressively pursued.
Mr. Okyere Baafi said Ghana must take immediate steps to strengthen its local industries and reduce overreliance on a few export destinations. “Our best buffer is Africa itself,” he said.
Mr. Okyere Baafi also emphasized the urgent need to expand trade within Africa, highlighting Ghana’s growing capabilities in ceramics, iron ore, and value-added agricultural products.
He argued that increasing intra-African trade could help diversify Ghana’s trade portfolio while enhancing regional economic integration.
Both former ministers pointed to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a crucial mechanism for economic resilience.
The AfCFTA aims to create the world’s largest free trade area, connecting 55 African countries with a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion. However, implementation has been slow, with many countries facing logistical, policy, and infrastructural challenges.
In the meantime, in response to the tariff hike, the Ghanaian government has indicated plans to initiate diplomatic talks with Washington while also fast-tracking policies to support local production and boost AfCFTA-related trade.
Nonetheless, the Ministry of Trade and Industry says it’s coordinating with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Ghana Free Zones Authority to explore alternative markets and cushion exporters.
