Ghana sets $10bn target for non-traditional exports by 2030

The newly established Accelerated Export Development Committee (AEDC), set up and inaugurated on Monday, May 5, 2025, by President John Dramani Mahama, is expected to drive Ghana’s non-traditional export earnings from the current $3.5 billion to $10 billion annually by 2030.

President Mahama, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 18-member presidential committee, underscored the committee’s pivotal role in ensuring the country achieves the $10 billion annual earnings from non-traditional exports by 2030.

“The AEDC has been established to serve as a high-level platform for strategic coordination, policy coherence, and institutional accountability in our export development efforts. Our strategy is ambitious but deliberate,” President Mahama reiterated.

He explained that under the Accelerated Export Development Programme, the Advisory Committee, and the National Export Development Strategy, Ghana aims to grow its non-traditional exports significantly by prioritising value addition and economic diversification.

“Ghana’s current exports remain dominated by low-complexity raw materials such as gold, cocoa, cashew, and timber, mostly in their raw state. We must change this narrative,” he stated.

President Mahama again reiterated his administration’s commitment to modernising the country’s ports to enhance trade efficiency.

“Ghana’s exporters face some of the highest logistics costs in West Africa, and our export clearance times exceed regional averages. We will, therefore, modernise our ports, revamp the Volta Lake Transport Company, develop the Mpakadan Port, operationalise the Bankra Inland Port, and expand the cold chain infrastructure to support our fisheries and horticultural sectors,” he said.

According to him, the interventions being put in place by the government are crucial for improving transportation, reducing spoilage, and enhancing competitiveness, particularly for producers based in the hinterlands.

As part of a broader strategy to expand Ghana’s foreign exchange inflows and stimulate long-term economic growth, the 18-member presidential committee will play a critical role in coordinating the country’s export development efforts.