Ghana is seeking to increase exports and expand access to regional markets under a renewed partnership between the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI) and TradeMark Africa (TMA), with a focus on improving the competitiveness of local businesses under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The partnership, renewed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will support interventions aimed at improving market access, strengthening export standards, modernising trade infrastructure, and reducing the “time and cost of moving goods” along the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor.
The agreement is expected to create greater opportunities for Ghanaian businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women, and young entrepreneurs, to participate in regional and AfCFTA trade.
Under the renewed arrangement, the two institutions will continue implementing the Ghana Country Programme (GCP) Strategy, which focuses on “trade facilitation, regional integration, private sector competitiveness and improved market access.”
A key component of the partnership will be strengthening standards and quality systems to improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian agricultural and manufactured products in regional and international markets.
The Ministry said the collaboration would also support “inclusive trade interventions” and improve access to trade finance, areas considered critical to enabling SMEs and other smaller businesses to take advantage of expanding regional markets.
The renewed agreement will further support Ghana’s implementation of its obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, the AfCFTA, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) trade agenda.
Trade infrastructure and border efficiency will also form part of the export expansion strategy, with planned interventions to modernise border management systems, strengthen digital trade infrastructure, and improve logistics networks.
The Ministry said these measures are expected to make the movement of goods more efficient and help Ghanaian exporters compete more effectively across the region.
Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, cited progress already recorded through the partnership, including improvements at the Akanu–Noepe Joint Border Post.
The facility now benefits from “integrated digital customs systems, modern infrastructure and solar energy solutions,” supporting 24-hour border operations and reducing delays in cross-border trade.
The Minister’s remarks highlight the importance of efficient border systems to Ghana’s export ambitions, particularly as businesses seek to take advantage of the AfCFTA market.
The renewed partnership builds on an earlier agreement established in January 2023, which provided a strategic framework for supporting Ghana’s trade and economic development priorities.
Beyond infrastructure, the collaboration has also focused on building the capacity of traders and institutions. The Ministry said more than 1,250 women and small-scale cross-border traders have benefited from support on AfCFTA procedures, “simplified trade processes, and safer trading environments.”
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark Africa, Allen Sophia Asiimwe, commended the government, particularly the Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Ministry, for the “continued collaboration” and expressed the hope that the partnership would be further strengthened under the renewed agreement.
The partnership will also support Ghana’s preparation for “emerging green trade requirements”, which could influence access to international markets as environmental and sustainability standards become more prominent.
