Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi has revealed that President John Mahama has instructed government officials to do everything within their power to resolve the controversial 10% tariff imposed on Ghana’s exports by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, April 7, the Bodi MP said President Mahama considers the matter one of national interest and has given his full support to any diplomatic or strategic steps needed to reverse what many in Ghana view as an unjustified tariff.
“President John Mahama has tasked us to ensure that efforts have been made to ensure that this problem of Trump tariffs slapped on the country is addressed,” Ahi stated during the interview.
The Deputy Minister’s comments came after a high-level meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, earlier that day.
The meeting was triggered by the Trump administration’s decision to include cocoa—Ghana’s leading export—in a list of products subjected to the new 10% tariff, despite the fact that the U.S. does not produce cocoa.
“I am sure that once we have his blessings, if he has to intervene, he will certainly do,” Ahi added, hinting that the President is prepared to engage at the highest level if necessary to protect Ghana’s economic interests.
He questioned the rationale behind targeting cocoa, arguing that the U.S. lacks a domestic cocoa industry to protect.
“If you want to impose taxes on commodities to remain competitive, you would do that based on the commodities that you have a competitive advantage over us,” he said.
“The U.S. doesn’t produce cocoa, but they have slapped a 10% tariff on its exports.”
Ahi disclosed that Ambassador Palmer herself was surprised by the inclusion of cocoa in the tariff scheme and advised Ghana to escalate the matter diplomatically.
“She was surprised,” Ahi noted. “She felt that if we pursued it, a commodity like cocoa can be exempted from the 10% tariff. She thinks we should engage at a higher level—that is, bringing in the President at a top governmental level.”
The Deputy Minister also noted that Ghana is not standing alone in its opposition to the tariffs. He said the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are also preparing to respond.
“We also know that as Africans, we have agreed to fight this collectively. And so on the 14th of this month, AfCFTA is organising a meeting with African trade ministers to look at this situation.”
Ahi stressed that Ghana will not back down from what he described as an “unfair” trade decision.
“This is a matter that affects our economy, our farmers, and our export earnings. We are not treating this lightly.”
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