Ghana is importing more goods than it exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), raising concerns over the country’s trade balance, Mr Louis Yaw Afful, an International Trade and AfCFTA Consultant, has revealed.
Speaking at a media forum on the “Investment Outlook in Ghana Under AfCFTA,” Mr Afful said trade data show Ghana accounts for over 40 per cent of imports within the preferential trading system, while its export contribution remains low.
He explained that Ghana adopted a 10-year tariff liberalisation regime, reducing tariffs by about 2.5 per cent annually. While this encourages trade, it has also made Ghana a major destination for AfCFTA-compliant imports.
“The imbalance is largely due to Ghana’s limited manufacturing capacity compared to countries like South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Kenya, which export more finished goods,” he said.
Mr Afful noted that South Africa’s strong export performance is driven by its advanced manufacturing base and established retail networks, such as Shoprite, across the continent. In contrast, Ghana has yet to significantly benefit from AfCFTA exports.
He cautioned that continued reliance on imports without boosting exports could weaken Ghana’s industrial base and undermine AfCFTA’s objectives. He called for policies to strengthen manufacturing, agro-processing, and industrial value chains to enable Ghanaian businesses to fully exploit preferential access to African markets.
Source: GNA
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