ECOWAS remained Ghana’s largest regional export market, accounting for US$767.8 million, representing more than half of the country’s Africa-bound NTEs.

These statistics were captured in the 2025 Annual Non-Traditional Export Statistics Report, which identified Togo as Ghana’s leading ECOWAS destination with exports increasing by 10.23 per cent to US$232 million.

“This was driven by the country’s role as a strategic transit and re-export hub, alongside strong demand for manufactured goods such as iron and steel and articles of plastics,” the report said.

Côte d’Ivoire followed with US$205 million, while Nigeria and Senegal recorded US$103.5 million and US$87.5 million, respectively, reinforcing West Africa’s position as Ghana’s principal regional export market.

The AES bloc accounted for US$674.8 million in Ghanaian NTEs, with Burkina Faso contributing US$532.2 million, making it the largest individual destination among the bloc’s members.

Mali and Niger also contributed to the trade, supported by demand for Ghanaian manufactured and processed goods.

The report said the transition of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger into the AES bloc had reshaped the regional distribution of Ghana’s exports.

Outside West Africa, Ghana’s exports to other African regional blocs remained comparatively modest.

The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) recorded US$14.8 million, led by Algeria, while the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) accounted for US$14.2 million, driven largely by Egypt’s demand for semi-processed products.

The East African Community (EAC) recorded US$11.9 million, led by Kenya, while the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) accounted for US$11.3 million, mainly from Cameroon.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) recorded US$8 million, with South Africa serving as the primary destination.

The report, launched in April 2026 by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), recommended a targeted approach to expanding Ghana’s export markets across the continent.

“To sustain and expand Ghana’s NTEs performance across Africa, a region-specific and strategic approach is essential,” it said.

It identified strengthening trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ECOWAS, addressing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards and improving border efficiency as key measures to facilitate trade.

The report also called for stronger trade relations with major markets such as Togo, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, alongside efforts to expand into underserved markets in Eastern and Southern Africa.

It said investments in transport and logistics infrastructure, including trade corridors, inland ports and efficient transit systems, would be critical to reducing trade costs and improving delivery times.

The report further recommended expanding value addition by shifting from raw materials to processed and semi-processed goods in manufacturing and agribusiness to improve export earnings and competitiveness.

It identified Kenya, South Africa and Egypt as potential markets for diversification, recommending targeted trade missions, expanded export financing and improved trade intelligence services.

“Expanding transport and logistics infrastructure, including trade corridors, inland ports and efficient transit systems, will be critical to reducing trade costs and improving delivery times,” the report said.

“Simultaneously, Ghana must intensify its shift towards value addition, transitioning from raw materials to processed and semi-processed goods in manufacturing and agribusiness to enhance export earnings and competitiveness.”

Strengthening product quality standards, packaging, certification and traceability was also highlighted as necessary to meet varying regulatory and market requirements across the continent.

The report proposed replicating the Ghana Trade House model in other strategic markets, similar to the Nairobi initiative, to improve the visibility and distribution of Ghanaian products across Africa.

Ghana’s NTE earnings for 2025 reached a total value of US$5.006 billion, representing a 30.7 per cent increase from the US$3.83 billion recorded in 2024.

Meanwhile, the 2025 export value to the African market was slightly higher than the US$1.45 billion recorded in 2024 and accounted for 37.8 per cent of total NTE earnings.