Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare has warned that Ghana’s rising export figures and growing trade surplus do not reflect a fully transformed economy, insisting that the country still faces serious industrial and structural challenges.
Speaking at a World Bank–ACET–ISSER seminar in Accra, the Minister said Ghana’s US$13.6 billion trade surplus in 2025 should not be mistaken for long-term economic transformation, as the country remains heavily dependent on raw commodity exports.
According to her, although non-traditional exports increased to US$5 billion in 2025, with processed and semi-processed goods rising to US$3.09 billion, Ghana’s industrial sector continues to struggle with unreliable raw material supply and low production capacity.
She said government has introduced the “Feed the Industry Programme” to guarantee consistent industrial inputs for local manufacturers while restricting the export of selected raw materials to encourage domestic processing.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare added that Ghana is targeting the processing of at least 50 per cent of its cocoa locally and is also pursuing plans to expand gold refining capacity to retain more value within the economy.
The Minister further highlighted efforts to improve regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by addressing border delays and harmonising standards across ECOWAS.
She stressed that Ghana’s next economic phase must focus on industrial expansion, job creation and export diversification rather than relying solely on export growth figures.
