Ghana and the AfCFTA

Ghana’s legacy as a champion for African unity and integration is reflected in the way the country has become a trailblazer for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ghana was one of the first countries in Africa to sign the agreement, and the first (along with Kenya) to ratify it. The West African nation’s commitment to creating a single African market is underscored by the establishment of the AfCFTA Secretariat headquarters in Accra.

The creation of the seamless, integrated African market envisioned in the AfCFTA, could propel Ghana into becoming the continent’s commercial capital.

How Ghana is preparing the ground for the AfCFTA

The government in Ghana is encouraging the country’s private sector to ready itself for the growth opportunities that the AfCFTA brings by:

Expanding production in the industrial and agricultural sectors

Leading socio-economic transformation

The government is also pursuing robust industrial transformation policies and programmes to support these efforts. These are geared toward helping the private sector add value to Ghanaian exports, developing the country’s capacity to compete with imports and expanding opportunities for job creation.

How GIZ is supporting Ghana’s implementation of the AfCFTA

GIZ is supporting negotiations and national AfCFTA implementation efforts in Ghana. A national AfCFTA implementation strategy has been developed and structures created to help boost intra-African trade.

Key activities include:

Supporting the implementation of the national plan

Support in building the competitiveness and growth-readiness of the private sector, especially SMEs, to participate in the AfCFTA

Driving awareness and training on customs rules and regulations

Driving awareness and support for young entrepreneurs looking to grow from the AfCFTA AfCFTA

What we have achieved so far

The Ghana team has produced situational analyses and position papers on e-commerce; investment; and competition policy to support Ghana’s trade negotiating team. The capacity of ministries, agencies, and departments has been strengthened to support the implementation of Ghana’s AfCFTA commitments.

“We, in Ghana, believe that an increase in trade is the surest way to deepen regional integration in Africa. It will mean a rapid increase in the exchange of agricultural, industrial, financial, scientific, and technological products, which would significantly enhance our economic fortunes as a continent, create prosperity, and provide opportunities for employment for the broad masses of Africans, particularly the youth.”

- Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana at the handover of the AfCFTA Secretariat Building, in Accra, to the African Union Commission in August 2020.

Facts and figures

The AfCFTA will help Ghana boost its intra-African trade, which currently accounts for a relatively small proportion of the country’s imports and exports.

Exports to the rest of Africa (2019):
US$2.97 billion

Exports to the rest of the world (2019):
US$16.7 billion

Imports from other African countries (2019):
US$1 billion

Imports from the rest of the world (2019):
US$10.4 billion

Our partners in Ghana

Political partner: Ministry of Trade and Industry

Main implementing partners:

National AfCFTA  

Coordination Office

The Ghana Revenue  

Authority – Customs Division

Ghana National Chamber of  
Commerce and Industry

Private sector stakeholders include:

Association of
 Ghana Industries

The Ghana Chamber of
 Young Entrepreneurs

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