Ghana, TradeMark Africa partnership renewal to boost trade and exports — Trade Minister

The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, has noted that the renewal of Ghana’s partnership with TradeMark Africa will strengthen trade facilitation, boost exports and support sustainable economic growth.

She said the renewed partnership would deepen collaboration between the Ministry and TradeMark Africa in implementing Ghana’s obligations under key trade frameworks, including the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) trade agenda.

The Minister made the statement when she signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark Africa, Allen Sophia Asiimwe, to renew the partnership between the two institutions.

The renewed agreement builds on an earlier partnership established in January 2023, which provided a framework for advancing Ghana’s trade and economic development priorities.

Under the agreement, TradeMark Africa and the Ministry will continue implementing the Ghana Country Programme Strategy, which focuses on trade facilitation, regional integration, private sector competitiveness and improved market access.

The partnership will support the modernisation of border management systems, strengthen digital trade infrastructure and improve logistics networks to reduce the time and cost of moving goods along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.

It will also support stronger standards and quality systems to improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian exports, particularly agricultural and manufactured products.

The Minister said the partnership had already produced results, citing her recent visit to commission improved border management systems at the Akanu Noepe Joint Border Post.

She said the integrated digital customs systems, improved infrastructure and solar energy solutions at the border had enabled 24-hour operations and helped reduce delays in the movement of goods.

According to her, the collaboration has supported traders and businesses through institutional capacity building, training for border officials and export readiness programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises.

“More than 1,250 women and small-scale cross-border traders have benefited from support on AfCFTA procedures, simplified trade processes and safer trading environments,” she added.

She stated that the renewed partnership will also expand opportunities for women, young people and SMEs to participate in regional and AfCFTA trade through inclusive trade interventions and improved access to trade finance.

The minister said it will further support Ghana’s preparedness for emerging green trade requirements as global markets increasingly adopt environmental standards.

“The partnership will provide a platform for scaling investments, increasing exports and advancing Ghana’s ambition of becoming a leading regional trade and investment hub,” she noted.

She said the collaboration was aligned with national priorities on private sector-led growth, industrialisation, job creation and the development of a resilient export-driven economy.

Madam Asiimwe commended the Government, particularly the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, for its continued collaboration with TradeMark Africa.

She expressed the hope that the renewed agreement would deepen cooperation and deliver further benefits to Ghanaian traders and businesses.

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