Ghana: Visió econòmica i política
Ghana maintains a highly open stance towards foreign trade, with trade accounting for approximately 69% of its GDP, according to the latest data from the World Bank. The government's objective is to foster an economic environment conducive to private sector development, transparent trade practices, and enhanced competitiveness in foreign markets. In terms of exports, Ghana's main commodities include gold (45.4%), petroleum oils (23.6%), cocoa beans (6.6%), cocoa paste (2.4%), and manganese ores (1.9%). On the other hand, the country's primary imports consist of petroleum oils (30.0%), motor cars (3.4%), goods transport vehicles (2.4%), insecticides & herbicides (2.1%), cement (2.1% - data Comtrade for 2023).
As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ghana has engaged in various partnership agreements, including with the European Union. The EU supports Ghana's "Beyond Aid" program, aimed at restructuring trade dynamics between Ghana and developed economies. Customs duties, while not excessively high, are applied to all imported products, following the common external customs tariffs of the ECOWAS. Ghana's top export destinations in 2023 were Switzerland (18.2%), South Africa (11.7%), the United Arab Emirates (10.2%), China (8.2%), and India (7.0%); with imports coming chiefly from China (18.7%), the Netherlands (9.6%), India (6.4%), the United States (6.1%), and Belgium (4.6% - Comtrade).
Data from the WTO indicates that, in 2023, Ghana exported goods worth USD 15.8 billion and imported USD 13.7 billion, marking decreases of 9.3% and 6.2% year-on-year, respectively. However, while Ghana maintains a trade surplus in goods, it is a net importer of services. In 2022 (latest data available), service exports totalled USD 8.6 billion compared to service imports amounting to USD 10.1 billion. In 2024, Ghana recorded a trade surplus of GHS 44.7 billion, with exports reaching GHS 294.9 billion, surpassing imports of GHS 250.2 billion, according to preliminary data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 13,411 | 12,429 | 13,629 | 14,621 | 13,715 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 15,668 | 14,472 | 14,727 | 17,494 | 15,868 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 13,498 | 12,117 | 12,338 | 11,708 | 0 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 9,925 | 7,606 | 9,174 | 8,250 | 0 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 76.8 | 66.6 | 62.7 | 70.1 | 69.0 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | 2,257 | 2,043 | 1,099 | 2,655 | 2,695 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | -1,316 | -2,468 | -2,066 | -808 | -659 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 15.9 | -8.8 | 5.8 | 1.4 | -1.2 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 12.7 | -12.8 | -1.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 39.4 | 35.1 | 32.7 | 35.5 | 35.0 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 37.4 | 31.5 | 30.1 | 34.7 | 34.0 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2024 | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) | 2028 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 1.8 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 5.5 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 3.6 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.6 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Member of African Union (AU)
Member of WTO
Member of Commonwealth of Nations
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
Switzerland | 18.2% |
South Africa | 11.7% |
United Arab Emirates | 10.2% |
China | 8.2% |
India | 7.0% |
See More Countries | 44.8% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
China | 18.7% |
Netherlands | 9.6% |
India | 6.4% |
Russia | 6.4% |
United States | 6.1% |
See More Countries | 52.7% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
7.5 bn USD of services exported in 2022 | |
50.18% | |
17.43% | |
11.09% | |
Business travelBusiness travel | 7.76% |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 3.33% |
OtherOther | 80.87% |
8.03% | |
5.37% | |
3.81% | |
2.86% | |
0.72% | |
0.29% | |
0.22% |
11.7 bn USD of services imported in 2022 | |
55.41% | |
26.03% | |
5.27% | |
Business travelBusiness travel | 3.69% |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 1.58% |
OtherOther | 68.69% |
3.43% | |
2.14% | |
2.08% | |
1.90% | |
1.50% | |
1.32% | |
0.91% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: May 2025