Ghana Targets $10bn in Non-Traditional Exports by 2030

Accra, Ghana - 06 May, 2025 - Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a bold plan to increase the country's non-traditional export earnings to $10 billion annually by 2030, up from the current $3.5 billion.

To achieve this goal, the President inaugurated the 18-member Accelerated Export Development Committee (AEDC), tasked with coordinating the country's export development efforts.

The AEDC will serve as a high-level platform for strategic coordination, policy coherence, and institutional accountability in Ghana's export development efforts.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Monday, May 5, 2025, President Mahama emphasized that the committee's mandate is critical to driving economic growth and expanding foreign exchange inflows.

The President noted that Ghana's current exports are dominated by low-complexity raw materials, and the government aims to change this narrative by prioritizing value addition and economic diversification. To support this effort, the government plans to modernize the country's ports, revamp the Volta Lake Transport Company, and develop new ports and infrastructure.

“The AEDC has been established to serve as a high-level platform for strategic coordination, policy coherence, and institutional accountability in our export development efforts. Our strategy is ambitious but deliberate,” he said.

“Ghana’s current exports remain dominated by low-complexity raw materials such as gold, cocoa, cashew, and timber, mostly in their raw state. We must change this narrative,” President Mahama noted.

These initiatives, President Mahama stressed, are crucial for improving transportation, reducing spoilage, and enhancing competitiveness, particularly for producers in the hinterlands.

“Ghana’s exporters face some of the highest logistics costs in West Africa, and our export clearance times exceed regional averages. We will therefore modernize our ports, revamp the Volta Lake Transport Company, develop the Mpakadan Port, operationalize the Bankra Inland Port, and expand the cold chain infrastructure to support our fisheries and horticultural sectors,” he said.

The government's commitment to export development and economic growth is evident in its ambitious targets and strategic interventions.

The inauguration of the AEDC marks a significant step towards achieving Ghana's export development goals. The committee's work will be closely watched as the country strives to reach its ambitious target of $10 billion in non-traditional export earnings by 2030.

Source: Lead News Online