The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has announced a significant increase in the country’s Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs), which reached a total of $3.9 billion last year. This marks an impressive 11.75% growth compared to the previous year, underscoring the growing importance of non-traditional sectors in diversifying Ghana’s economy.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEPA, Osafohene Dr Afua Asabea Asare, made this known at the Minister’s Press Briefing in Accra. She hinted the Non-Traditional Exports earned the country $3.94 billion during this period, a rise from the $3.53 billion recorded in 2022.
She attributed the growth to iron and steel circles, rods and billets, which topped the earnings list with $447.8 million. Other high-performing products included cocoa paste ($340.6 million), cashew nuts ($263.5 million) and cocoa butter ($241.3 million).
The Non-Traditional Exports sector saw an expansion across various industries, including processed and semi-processed goods, agricultural products, and handicrafts. These sectors are critical to Ghana’s efforts to reduce reliance on traditional exports like gold, cocoa, and oil, and move toward a more diversified export portfolio.
The processed and semi-processed products category, which includes cocoa products, natural rubber, and processed food, remains the dominant contributor to Ghana’s NTEs. Agricultural products such as cashew nuts, mangoes, pineapples, and shea butter also played a key role in driving export growth.
Ghana’s NTEs are reaching a diverse range of international markets, with strong demand from Europe, the United States, and Asia. The government, through GEPA, has also been actively pursuing new markets, especially within Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which accounted for $1.78 billion in NTE earnings last year according to Dr. Asare, and its expected to further boost export opportunities for Ghanaian businesses.
GEPA’s strategic interventions have played a crucial role in the NTE growth. These include providing capacity-building programs for exporters, facilitating market linkages, and supporting businesses in meeting international quality standards. Additionally, the Export School, run by GEPA, has helped local businesses improve their competitiveness in global markets.
The growth in NTEs is a positive step toward diversifying Ghana’s economy. By reducing its dependence on traditional commodities like gold and oil, Ghana is becoming more resilient to global price fluctuations and economic shocks, promoting more sustainable growth.
The NTE sector continues to create jobs, especially in agriculture and processing industries, contributing to rural development and helping to reduce poverty. The increase in demand for agricultural exports, in particular, provides opportunities for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.The growth of NTEs has a positive impact on Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings, providing a more stable source of revenue for the country. This helps in supporting the local currency and managing trade imbalances.
“Agribusiness, manufactured goods, arts and crafts and services remain the major contributors to the NTEs, with agribusiness accounting for 12.56 per cent of the total NTEs,” she is quoted by Graphic Business to have said.
She mentioned that one million disease-tolerant coconut seedlings across 15,625 acres have been distributed to the Coconut Revitalization Programme. She said an additional 500,000 seedlings were expected to be distributed in 2025, with the programme anticipated to create 350,000 jobs along the coconut value chain.
Dr. Asare cited the “Youth in Export” programme as GEPA’s strategic interventions to attract young people to the export business, by providing participants with hands-on training, mentorship and capacity building, focusing on practical and technical learning to equip them achieve success in the export sector.
GEPA plans to expand the program with a third cohort expected to create over 4,000 direct jobs after the first and second cohorts created over 500 jobs.
With increasing global demand for sustainable and organic products, Ghana’s NTE sector has the potential to grow even further. The government’s focus on improving infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and market access will be key in unlocking the full potential of NTEs.
The 11.75% growth in Non-Traditional Exports highlights the success of Ghana’s ongoing efforts to diversify its export base.
With NTEs reaching $3.9 billion, the country is well-positioned to further expand its footprint in global markets. Through the continued support of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and strategic government policies, Ghana’s NTE sector is expected to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, job creation, and foreign exchange generation in the coming years.
