Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) earned US$3.83 billion in 2024, reaching 152 countries with over 1,500 exporters across 609 product lines, despite a slight 2.87% decline from the previous year. The dip, largely due to reduced iron and steel exports to the ECOWAS region, contrasts with strong performances in other sectors, underscoring the sector’s resilience and growing importance to Ghana’s economy.
The 2024 NTEs report, launched in Accra by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), highlights an average annual growth rate of 6.01% for NTEs over the past five years. In 2024, these exports accounted for nearly 19% of Ghana’s total merchandise export earnings, signaling steady progress in diversifying the country’s export base.
Mr. Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, GEPA’s CEO, emphasized the role of improved export processes and enhanced competitiveness in sustaining NTE growth despite global economic headwinds. Africa remains a key market, making up 45% of NTEs, with ECOWAS alone constituting over 94% of Ghana’s exports to the AfCFTA market, reflecting strong regional trade integration.
The report also highlights the dominance of manufactured and semi-processed goods, which made up over 83% of earnings. Cocoa paste exports surged by 35.54%, driven by demand from Europe and North America, showcasing Ghana’s growing foothold in value-added cocoa products—a sector GEPA plans to further promote.
Agriculture contributed 13.48% of NTE earnings, while the Industrial Arts and Crafts sector experienced nearly 23% growth, revealing global interest in Ghana’s creative exports. This diversification signals potential for cultural products alongside traditional commodities.
GEPA plans to leverage trade protocols like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and AfCFTA to deepen market access. Future strategies include expanding market intelligence, forging new trade partnerships, and exploring growth in medical tourism, labor export, and IT-enabled services.
Mr. Kwarteng Arthur also outlined plans to collaborate with tertiary institutions to strategically position Ghanaian students in the African market, aligning human capital development with export growth ambitions.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mr. Sampson Ahi, who officially unveiled the report, echoed the call for collective effort in boosting exports and value addition to sustain Ghana’s economic transformation.
The 2024 NTEs performance affirms the sector as a critical pillar for Ghana’s export-led growth and a promising pathway for sustainable development in the years ahead.
