Ghana is set to rake in an additional US$60 million (about GHS667 million) every year, thanks to the decision by the United States’ government to remove the 15% tariff that previously affected cocoa and other agricultural exports.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, made this decision public on Monday morning, announcing that the tariff reversal took effect on November 13, 2025.
This new turnaround means Ghana’s cocoa beans can now enter the US market at full value, without the price cut that the 15% charge forced exporters to absorb.
Speaking on the benefits this tariff reversal will bring to the country, Ablakwa explains that Ghana exports roughly 78,000 metric tons of cocoa beans to the US annually.
With global cocoa prices currently averaging around $5,300 per metric ton, the minister says the removal of the tariff will significantly increase Ghana’s earnings. Export companies will no longer have to discount their cocoa just to remain competitive in the US market.
“With an estimated annual Ghanaian cocoa beans export to the US averaging 78,000 metric tons, and at the current spot price of $5,300/MT, Ghana stands to raise additional revenue of US$60 million (GHS667million) each year, resulting from Trump’s tariff rescission,” Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa happily announced.
This surge in export revenue following the reversal is expected to have ripple effects across the country. More resources may flow back into cocoa-growing communities, supporting everything from fertilizer access and disease control to rural jobs in harvesting, transport, warehousing, and processing.
Exporters might also reinvest in productivity and expand their operations now that American buyers are likely to increase their orders.
The benefit isn’t limited to cocoa alone. Other tariff-free products, such as cashew, pineapple, mango, coconut, and peppers, are strong foreign exchange earners for thousands of farmers. With the tariffs gone, traders expect better prices and a possible rise in demand.
Moreover, the US$60 million additional revenue will also strengthen Ghana’s outlook for 2026, especially as the country looks for new ways to grow its non-oil export revenues and support rural livelihoods.
Ablakwa noted that the development reflects a renewed spirit of cooperation between Ghana and the United States, adding that both countries are working to build more resilient trade relations.
“Ghana welcomes this positive development from the US, which is the world’s leading importer of chocolate and cocoa products. Ghana and the USA will continue to forge closer and mutually beneficial relations,” the Minister for Foreign Affairs remarked.
For the government, as indicated by the minister, this is more than a diplomatic success; it is money that could transform farms, families, and entire communities.
