On January 19, 2011, workers were observed unloading bags of rice at the Port of Abidjan, a hub through which 80% of Ivory Coast’s exports pass. European Union-registered vessels have been prohibited from engaging with Ivory Coast’s primary cocoa ports, in accordance with sanctions related to the country’s contentious presidential election in November. The European Union recently imposed sanctions on the ousted incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo, along with 84 of his associates and 11 economic entities within the world’s leading cocoa-producing nation.
In a related development, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has reported significant progress in adding value to agricultural products for the international market. The authority announced that earnings have surpassed the US$5 billion mark for the first time, reflecting approximately a 30% increase over the previous year in the country’s non-traditional exports.
Mr. Rashid Raymond Kramer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GEPA responsible for Marketing and Promotions, described this achievement as a major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to diversify its export base and lessen reliance on traditional exports. Speaking at the Eye on Port media forum, organized by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr. Kramer emphasized that this success underscores the growing contribution of non-traditional exports to the national economy and provides a solid foundation for achieving Ghana’s target of US$10 billion in non-traditional export earnings by 2030.
He attributed the substantial growth to increased value addition and strong international demand for Ghanaian products. Notably, cocoa products, such as cocoa butter and cocoa cake, significantly boosted export performance, generating over US$800 million in export earnings. Additionally, commodities such as cashew, shea products, coconut, yam, mango, and processed agricultural products performed well in the international market, according to Mr. Kramer.
He further noted that the pivot towards processed and semi-processed products by exporters, rather than raw materials, has contributed to higher revenues and reduced post-harvest losses. The CEO of GEPA emphasized that value addition is crucial for increasing export earnings and creating employment opportunities along agricultural value chains.
Mr. Kramer disclosed that GEPA is implementing an Accelerated Export Development Programme aimed at supporting businesses to enhance product quality, access international markets, and improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian exports. He expressed optimism that continued investment in processing, logistics, and market development will further drive growth in the sector and position Ghana as a leading exporter of value-added products on the continent.
He assured that GEPA would continue to engage with stakeholders to expand market access and support exporters in capitalizing on emerging trends in global trade.
Credit:The Farmers platform
