Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Sampson Ahi, has expressed concern over the recent 10% tariff imposed on Ghanaian exports by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Ahi assured Ghanaians that the government is actively working to resolve the issue through diplomatic negotiations.
“We are very worried about the impact this tariff could have, especially on jobs and businesses in the export sector. But we are determined to engage the United States to ensure that Ghana is not unfairly targeted,” he said.
According to him, the United States government has informed affected countries that it is open to negotiations, and Ghana intends to take full advantage of that window.
“We will meet them country by country and put our case on the table. We’ve already had an initial meeting with the US Embassy here in Accra, and we’re confident that the outcome of that discussion has been forwarded to Washington,” he noted.
The Deputy Minister’s comments followed a high-level meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer.
The meeting was triggered by Washington’s decision to include cocoa—Ghana’s leading export commodity—on the list of products affected by the tariff, despite the fact that the U.S. does not produce cocoa itself.
But Mr. Ahi said the decision is surprising and concerning, especially because cocoa is a critical part of Ghana’s economy.
“But we are looking at the possibility of meeting again, this time at a higher diplomatic level, to push the negotiations further,” he added.
He said the government is lobbying for a tariff waiver and will ensure Ghana is part of any exemption arrangement the U.S. may put in place.
“We want to make sure Ghana continues to export to the U.S. market without tariffs. That is our goal,” Mr. Ahi stated.
He called for calm, urging the public not to panic over the issue.
“We understand the concerns, and we are doing our best to ensure the right thing is done. Ghanaians should be calm as we work through this,” he assured.
Mr. Ahi also reiterated the government’s commitment to adding value to agricultural exports through President Mahama’s agribusiness initiatives.
“We are working hard to ensure that the agribusiness sector thrives. The private sector should take full advantage of the opportunities being created, especially for non-traditional crops destined for the U.S. market,” he assured.
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