Accra: Madam Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has called on the United States to renew and modernize the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) ahead of its expiration in September 2025. She highlighted the trade framework’s role in driving economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction across Africa.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Gomashie made her remarks during the 249th Independence Day celebration of the United States held in Accra. She urged the U.S. Congress to act swiftly to extend the legislation, which has provided duty-free access for qualifying African exports to the U.S. market since 2000. She emphasized that AGOA remains a critical mechanism for deepening U.S.-African trade and driving shared prosperity within a fair, rules-based global economy.
The Minister pointed out that AGOA has created meaningful opportunities for Ghanaian businesses, particularly in textiles and apparel, agriculture, and value-added manufacturing. In 2024, Ghana’s exports to the United States under AGOA reached approximately $1.2 billion, with key exports including apparel, cocoa products, and processed agricultural goods. Madam Gomashie noted that these trade flows reflect the livelihoods and empowerment of Ghanaian workers, especially women and young people.
Madam Gomashie also commended the U.S. for its continued support of Ghana’s development goals, citing bilateral development assistance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In 2024, USAID committed approximately $150 million in bilateral development assistance to Ghana, allocated to sectors such as health, agriculture, and education with a focus on improving maternal and child health and enhancing food security.
She highlighted the broader scope of U.S.-Ghana cooperation, mentioning the 2023 U.S.-Ghana Business Expo held in Accra, which provided a platform for strengthening business linkages and boosting trade and investment flows. The Minister cited U.S. technical and financial assistance to Ghana’s fisheries sector and investments in northern Ghana to empower women and youth as further evidence of a dynamic partnership.
Mr. Rolf Olson, Charg© d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Accra, reinforced the strong partnership between the two nations. He highlighted the health infrastructure built through cooperation and its role in saving lives and preventing disease spread in West Africa. Mr. Olson expressed optimism about growing economic ties, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to fostering private sector-led growth in Ghana’s key sectors and creating favourable investment conditions for U.S. companies.