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Trade Ministry Was Instrumental In AGOA Extension – Trade Minister
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has attributed the recent extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to sustained technical, diplomatic, and political engagements led by her ministry.
Her remarks follow a decision by the United States Senate to extend AGOA for an additional three years after the programme expired in September 2025.
AGOA grants eligible African countries duty-free and quota-free access to the U.S. market for selected products.
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Speaking during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Madam Ofosu-Adjare said the extension was the result of deliberate interventions by the ministry in response to new tariff measures imposed by the United States.
“Following the 10% and subsequent 15% tariff impositions by the U.S., the ministry pursued both technical and political discussions with our counterparts in the U.S. and in Ghana, with the focus on improving Ghana’s trade status with the U.S.,” she stated.
She explained that the expiration of AGOA in 2025 had effectively removed Ghana’s ability to export goods to the U.S. on a duty-free and quota-free basis, compounding the impact of the new tariffs on exporters.
“It can be recalled that AGOA ended in 2025, which meant that our ability to export duty-free and quota-free to the U.S. was no longer available. Then we had the tariff issue as well,” the minister noted.
According to her, the ministry engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions with the U.S. ambassador to Ghana, alongside technical consultations involving officials of the ministry and the commercial division of the U.S. embassy.
Madam Ofosu-Adjare also revealed that Ghana worked through regional platforms to strengthen its position, including discussions among ECOWAS trade ministers to adopt a common stance on the tariff impositions.
“There were also public communications urging exporters to remain calm at a time when many were agitating because of the anticipated negative impact on their businesses,” she added.
She maintained that these coordinated efforts culminated in the extension of AGOA, describing it as a significant milestone for Ghana’s trade and export sector.
“The ministry played a leading role in this achievement, the extension of AGOA,” she said.
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