Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has welcomed the United States’ decision to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for one year, describing the move as a critical boost for Ghanaian exports and jobs.
The extension, signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, comes at a time when Ghanaian exporters are grappling with the effects of recent United States tariff measures. According to the Minister, the continuation of AGOA will help stabilize key export oriented industries and reinforce Ghana’s standing in the United States market.
The extension of AGOA will safeguard thousands of Ghanaian jobs, particularly in the garments, agro processing, cocoa derivatives and light manufacturing sectors. It also reinforces Ghana’s position as a reliable trading partner in the United States market, the Minister said on Wednesday.
AGOA provides eligible African countries with duty free and quota free access to the United States market for a wide range of products. Ghana remains among the beneficiaries, with a significant portion of its exports to the United States enjoying preferential access under the scheme.
The extension follows sustained diplomatic and technical engagements between Ghana and the United States after Washington introduced a 10 percent universal tariff on imports from all countries in April 2025. This was later followed by an additional 15 percent tariff on Ghanaian exports in August 2025, part of broader United States trade measures aimed at addressing trade imbalances.
These developments raised concerns among exporters, prompting intensified engagements to prevent disruptions to trade flows and investment decisions.
As part of these efforts, the Trade Ministry held a series of meetings with exporters and industry stakeholders to reassure them of government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s export interests and sustaining access to international markets.
Despite the challenges, our exporters have shown remarkable resilience, the Minister noted, encouraging businesses to take advantage of government support programmes to expand exports to the United States.
She specifically urged exporters to leverage the Accelerated Export Development Programme to enhance competitiveness, diversify export offerings, and increase Ghana’s share of the United States market under AGOA.
AGOA, enacted in 2000, has long been a cornerstone of United States Africa trade relations and currently applies to 32 eligible African countries. The agreement is non reciprocal, allowing African countries preferential access to the United States market without requiring equivalent concessions.
The Minister also commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other West African countries for their collective support and cooperation in securing the extension.
The latest development is expected to bring short term relief to Ghanaian exporters while policymakers continue to pursue longer term trade arrangements that protect national economic interests.
The extension, which runs retroactively from September 30, 2025, when AGOA expired, through December 31, 2026, provides only temporary certainty. United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer indicated that the administration would work with Congress to modernize the programme to align with President Trump’s America First trade policy.
