Ghana’s headline-grabbing surge in yam exports in 2025 tells a deeper story, one not just of increased trade, but of long-standing data discrepancies that had masked the true scale of the country’s performance in the international market.
At face value, yam exports recorded an extraordinary 559.29% jump in value between 2024 and 2025. However, this dramatic rise was less about a sudden spike in production or demand, and more the result of a rigorous data reconciliation exercise led by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) in collaboration with the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE).
The exercise compared exporter records with entries captured in the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), uncovering significant inconsistencies that had led to years of underreported export figures.
Two key factors drove these discrepancies.
First was widespread under-invoicing by exporters. Faced with the logistical challenges of exporting a highly perishable commodity like yam, many exporters deliberately declared lower values on Letters of Commitment (LOCs). This practice, while technically non-compliant, was often a risk-management strategy to avoid delays, penalties, or bureaucratic bottlenecks that could result in spoilage and financial losses during transit.
Second was a systemic misalignment between customs data and actual shipment records. In several instances, volumes and values recorded in ICUMS did not accurately reflect what was physically exported, creating a persistent gap between official statistics and on-the-ground trade activity.
By reconciling these datasets, GEPA and FAGE were able to correct the distortions, revealing that Ghana’s yam exports had been significantly higher than previously reported. The revised figures not only explain the sharp spike in 2025 but also highlight the extent to which data quality issues can obscure economic realities.
The implications extend beyond yams. Accurate export data is critical for policymaking, market intelligence, and international credibility. For perishable agricultural commodities in particular, where timing and valuation are crucial, weak data systems can undermine competitiveness and distort investment decisions.
The reconciliation exercise has therefore exposed both a problem and an opportunity: the need to strengthen alignment between customs systems and exporter documentation, while building a more transparent and reliable export reporting framework.
Beyond yams, Ghana’s broader agricultural export sector showed strong and diversified growth in 2025. Shea nut exports more than doubled, driven by robust global demand and policy signals such as the anticipated ban on raw shea exports, which accelerated shipments. Banana exports expanded by 27%, supported by improved infrastructure, irrigation, and sustained access to European markets.
Fresh and chilled tuna exports grew modestly by 7%, benefiting from tighter enforcement against illegal fishing, enhanced vessel monitoring, and improved cold-chain logistics. Meanwhile, non-traditional exports such as medicinal plants surged by 215%, reflecting rising global demand for natural inputs in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Seafood exports also saw remarkable gains, with cuttlefish and squid exports jumping by 390%, while flower exports increased by 34%, supported by better horticultural practices and proximity to key European markets, particularly the Netherlands. Live animal exports more than doubled, rising by 105%, driven largely by increased cross-border trade with neighbouring countries such as Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.
Taken together, the 2025 export performance underscores a resilient and increasingly diversified agricultural sector. Yet, the yam story stands out—not just for its scale, but for what it reveals about the importance of data integrity in shaping economic narratives.
As Ghana positions itself for sustained export growth, aligning data systems, improving transparency, and addressing structural inefficiencies will be just as critical as boosting production.
