Ghana risks losing its competitive edge in a rapidly changing global trade environment unless it urgently streamlines trade policies and eliminates internal barriers, says Dode Seidu, CEO of the Africa Trade Academy.
Speaking during the NorvanReports & Economic Governance Platform X Space session on the theme “Trade Without Privilege: Can Ghana Compete in a Tariff World?”, Mr. Seidu didn’t mince words: “The world is shifting. The U.S. is reintroducing tariffs, and global trade is becoming more protectionist. Ghana cannot afford to be complacent.”
He stressed that the country’s trade competitiveness is being undermined not just by tariffs, but by non-tariff barriers such as bureaucratic red tape, inefficient customs processes, and poor coordination between agencies. “We are often our own biggest hurdle. Streamlining these systems is no longer optional—it’s survival,” he stated.
Mr. Seidu urged Ghanaian policymakers to place stronger emphasis on regional trade, deepen regulatory reforms, and seize the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “AfCFTA presents Ghana with a golden opportunity,” he noted. “But we need to be ready—efficient, forward-looking, and strategically positioned to lead.”
With frustration mounting among global partners over uneven trade practices, Mr. Seidu warned that Ghana must demonstrate agility and leadership or risk being left out of new trade blocs and partnerships.
Seidu argued that the real challenge lies not in tariffs imposed by foreign nations, but in Ghana’s own non-tariff barriers a maze of fees, charges, and bureaucratic hurdles that stifle trade from within. He cited the excessive number of permits required to export from Ghana, high costs, and long delays as major roadblocks that disproportionately burden businesses, particularly SMEs.
“These internal inefficiencies are as damaging as external tariffs. Ghana must see this as a golden opportunity to modernize and simplify its trade environment,” he said.
Backing his assertions, Seidu referenced the 2024 U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) report, which flagged Ghana for imposing a range of levies including the COVID-19 and Ghana GETFund levies that make it costly for American exporters to access the Ghanaian market. This, he argued, not only affects foreign trade relations but also puts local exporters at a disadvantage.
Seidu proposed a dual-pronged approach for Ghana’s trade policy recalibration: first, focusing inward to eliminate costly inefficiencies, and second, turning outward toward regional opportunities within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Ghana’s most accessible markets aren’t across oceans they’re across borders,” he stated. “We must reduce trade friction with neighbors like Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire and establish mutual recognition agreements to harmonize standards and regulatory processes.”
As an example, Seidu cited regulatory cooperation between Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Nigeria’s NAFTA, which has the potential to streamline approval processes and eliminate duplication in product registration. Such initiatives, he argued, could serve as a model for broader regional integration.
However, he cautioned that new developments in the Sahel region, where countries like Burkina Faso have introduced new import duties, could fragment regional trade efforts. “As some nations drift from ECOWAS norms, Ghana must stay adaptive and strategically engaged to safeguard its regional economic interests,” Seidu warned.
He concluded by reinforcing the promise of AfCFTA, saying that while the continental agreement opens vast opportunities, Ghana’s success under its framework hinges on eliminating unnecessary trade barriers and ensuring its products can compete effectively on quality, price, and speed.
“Competitiveness in this new tariff-driven world is no longer just about external diplomacy it’s about internal efficiency. Ghana must rise to the occasion,” Seidu affirmed.
