The CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, has announced that Ghana earned $4 billion through Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) in 2023, marking an 11.75% increase compared to 2022.

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In 2022, the value of Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports increased to $3.5 billion from $3.3 billion in 2021. This update was shared by Dr. Afua Asabea Asare I at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Information Press Centre in Accra.

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"Ladies and gentlemen, Ghana’s Non-Traditional Export growth has been on a positive trajectory, even during COVID-19 when other countries were experiencing declines. We managed a 4% increase, though previously we had achieved 10% growth. During COVID-19, we dropped to 6%. But as I speak to you now, we have moved our exports to 11.75%. Despite everything happening globally, Ghana’s exports are growing,” Dr. Asabea Asare stated.

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The Non-Traditional Export sector consists of three sub-sectors including Agriculture, Manufactures and Semi- processed and industrial Art and Craft products.

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Last year’s growth is largely attributed to a surge in the export of key products such as iron and steel circles, rods, and billets, which generated $447.8 million. Other top performers included cocoa paste, which earned $340.6 million, cashew nuts at $263.5 million, and cocoa butter, bringing in $241.3 million.

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In 2022, cocoa paste emerged as the highest earner, contributing US$520.3 million, followed by cashew nuts with US$294.2 million. Shea oil ranked as the lowest earner with US$92.6 million.

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The manufactures/ semi-processed sub-sector contributed US$2.938 billion, while the agricultural sub-sector accounted for US$509.9 million of total NTEs earnings compared to US$476.01million earned in 2021, indicating a 4.61 % growth. This sub-sector contributed 14.47% share to total NTE earnings in 2022.

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The Industrial Art and Craft sub-sector increased by 79.73% over 2021, to US$81,235,108. The sub-sector contributed 2.30% to total non-traditional exports earnings.

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Ghana’s membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has also positively impacted export earnings. In 2023 alone, exports to AfCFTA member countries accounted for $1.78 billion of the total NTE earnings.

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