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Government urged to absorb part of US tariff cost to support Ghanaian exporters

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An economist at the University of Ghana, Professor William Baah-Boateng, has urged the government to consider absorbing part of the new 10 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on some Ghanaian exports to reduce its impact on local businesses.

He said such an intervention would provide short-term relief for exporters while broader efforts are made to address challenges facing the country’s export sector.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews last Friday, April 5, 2025, Prof Baah-Boateng noted that although the tariff was not as high as those imposed on countries like China and Canada, its effect on Ghanaian exporters could not be ignored.

“If indeed this tariff is something that is going to worry us, can we absorb part of it so that at least when it goes out there it will not be sold at a higher price?” he asked.

The US government recently announced a 10 per cent tariff on a range of imported goods, including agricultural produce from several African countries, sparking concerns among Ghanaian exporters about the potential impact on their competitiveness.

Prof Baah-Boateng said while the tariff itself posed challenges, delays at Ghana’s ports and other structural problems within the export system often contributed more significantly to high production costs.

He pointed to the long waiting times transporters sometimes faced at the ports as a key issue that the government should address to reduce costs for exporters.

“For instance, if you are in Koforidua and you are exporting gari to the US, and the car that you rented is going to spend about three, four days there, can we do something to minimise those bottlenecks so that the car will just spend one day and then the goods will get out?” he asked.

Prof Baah-Boateng said removing such bottlenecks would likely have a greater impact on reducing costs for businesses than the 10 per cent tariff.

 

He urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other relevant state institutions to provide clear communication to exporters to prevent panic.

“I expect the Ministry of Trade and Agribusiness to come in and assure us because they have the figures. They will be able to know how the effect will be, that it is not rocket science,” he said.

He also cautioned against creating unnecessary alarm over the tariff, pointing out that Ghana’s situation was far less severe than that of some other countries.

“We are not Canada, where we’ve been slapped with over 50 per cent. We are not China, where we have in excess of 50 per cent. We have the 10 per cent. Let’s be sober so that we will not panic,” he advised.

Prof Baah-Boateng also warned against any rushed attempt by Ghana to enter into a bilateral free trade agreement with the US as a response to the tariff.

He said Ghana would be better served working through regional bodies like the African Union to strengthen its bargaining position in global trade negotiations.

Source: Graphic Online

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NEIP and MoFA Partner to Boost Poultry Agribusiness Under Adwumawura Programme

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The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to scale up support for agricultural entrepreneurs through the Adwumawura Programme.

 

The partnership seeks to strengthen Ghana’s agribusiness sector by combining MoFA’s technical expertise with NEIP’s entrepreneurship training initiatives.

 

As part of the agreement, MoFA will provide high-quality poultry feed and deliver technical and field support to programme beneficiaries. NEIP, on the other hand, will equip entrepreneurs with practical business training and essential resources, including hen coops, to help them establish and expand their poultry ventures.

 

At the signing ceremony, officials from both institutions emphasized that the collaboration is tailored to empower small-scale poultry farmers, especially “nkoko nketenkete” entrepreneurs, to create jobs, grow agribusinesses, and contribute to sustainable economic development.

 

The initiative falls under NEIP’s broader Reset Agenda, which is focused on driving innovation, supporting small enterprises, and positioning agriculture as a central pillar of Ghana’s economic transformation.

 

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Commercial Transport Operators Threaten Strike Over Soaring Spare Parts Prices

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Commercial Transport Operators have issued a stern warning to government, demanding immediate action to reduce the high cost of spare parts or risk facing major disruptions in the transport sector.

 

In a statement dated September 9, 2025, the operators said they felt “compelled” to call on the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, and the Parliamentary Select Committees on Trade, Industry, and Transport to swiftly intervene.

 

They recalled that in March 2025, during engagements with spare parts dealers and government officials, a promise was made to bring down spare parts prices, but nothing had been done since.

 

“Unfortunately, this promise has not been fulfilled, and the prices remain exorbitant,” the operators lamented.

 

The statement further warned: “If immediate action is not taken, we fear that the situation will escalate, and we may be forced to take drastic measures that could disrupt transportation services. We cannot continue to operate under these unsustainable conditions.”

 

They urged the relevant ministries and parliamentary committees to ensure that spare parts dealers adhere to their commitments, stressing that the survival of the transport industry—and by extension, the economy—depends on swift action.

 

“Failure to address this pressing issue will have severe consequences for our industry and the economy as a whole,” the statement concluded.

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GoldBod Unveils Bold Reforms to Transform Ghana’s Mining Sector

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The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, has announced sweeping reforms and strategic initiatives to position Ghana’s mining sector as a globally competitive and sustainable industry.

 

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mining and Minerals Convention at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, Mr. Gyamfi said the GoldBod was driving a paradigm shift from raw mineral extraction to value retention, with the goal of maximising national benefit from Ghana’s mineral wealth.

 

Between January and August 2025, small-scale gold exports facilitated by GoldBod reached a record 66.7 tonnes valued at $6 billion, surpassing the entire 2024 figure of 63 tonnes worth $4.6 billion. For the first time, small-scale gold exports outperformed large-scale mining exports over the same period.

 

Key reforms announced include:

 

Aggressive licensing reforms to promote responsible sourcing.

 

Scrapping of the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed small-scale gold.

 

Introduction of a nationwide traceability system to ensure transparency and compliance.

 

Partnerships requiring large-scale miners to supply 20% of their output to the Bank of Ghana for reserve accumulation.

 

 

To combat illegal mining, the GoldBod has pledged ₵5 million and five Toyota Hilux pickups to enforcement agencies, alongside a program to reclaim 1,000 hectares of degraded forest reserves beginning November 2025.

 

On value addition, Mr. Gyamfi announced plans for a state-owned gold refinery and an ISO-certified Assay Laboratory at Kotoka International Airport. Discussions are also underway to establish a “Gold Village” as a continental hub for jewellery production.

 

Calling for stronger investment, he urged local banks, pension funds, and financiers to channel resources into mining, stressing Africa’s need to transition from raw exports to beneficiation, from middlemen to tech-driven trade, and from youth as labourers to youth as innovators and owners.

 

“Ghana is resetting and Africa is rising. The GoldBod is ready. All we need now is courage and capital. Let us fund the minerals and mining sector differently. Let us transform it together,” Mr. Gyamfi concluded.

 

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