Ghana's non-traditional export earnings for the year 2024 have slightly declined, according to the 2024 annual NTEs Statistics report by the Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA).

According to the authority, Ghana recorded non-traditional exports (NTE) earnings of $3.83 billion in 2024, marking a 2.87% dip in earnings compared to 2023.

At the launch of the 2024 annual NTEs Statistics report, Chief Executive of GEPA, Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, attributed the decline to a reduction in exports of iron and steel to the ECOWAS region.

“In 2024, Ghana’s NTEs recorded earnings of $3.83 billion, reaching 152 countries; however, we registered encouraging gains in several other sectors,” he mentioned.

Most of the export earnings came from manufactured and semi-processed goods, which made up over 83% of the total.

Cocoa paste made a strong impact, increasing by over 35% because many buyers in Europe and North America wanted it. This points to Ghana's growing success in processing raw cocoa into higher-value products that bring in more income.

The agricultural sector also saw growth, contributing 13.48% to total earnings. Meanwhile, products from the arts and crafts industry grew by nearly 23%, showing that international markets are increasingly interested in Ghana’s creative and cultural goods.

Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry Samson Ahi encouraged businesses to focus on adding value to their products to boost exports.

In 2023, Ghana achieved nearly $4 billion in non-traditional exports, marking an 11% increase from the $3.53 billion recorded in 2022.

Ghana’s non-traditional exports (NTEs) for 2022 increased by $200,730,646, from $3,330,317,588 in 2021 to $3,531,048,234.

GEPA said it plans to roll out more support and initiatives, including the Accelerated Export Development Programme, to help improve export performance in the coming years.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated an 18-member Presidential Committee on Accelerated Export Development.

The committee, which includes President Mahama, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and other key stakeholders, is tasked with driving Ghana’s export agenda to boost foreign exchange earnings and economic growth.The newly established Accelerated Export Development Committee (AEDC) is expected to drive Ghana’s non-traditional export earnings from the current $3.5 billion to an ambitious $10 billion annually by 2030.

"Through the Accelerated Export Development Programme, the Advisory Committee, and the National Export Development Strategy, our goal is to raise Ghana’s non-traditional export earnings from $3.5 billion annually to at least $10 billion by 2030," President Mahama stated.