The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has called on local producers and manufacturers to improve packaging and labelling standards to enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian products on the international market.
Speaking in an interview in Bolgatanga, Chris Amponsah Sackey, GEPA’s Zonal Director for the Upper East and Upper West Regions, said proper packaging and compliant labelling remain critical requirements for accessing and competing effectively in global markets.
According to him, Ghana’s strategic position, bordered by three Francophone countries, makes it necessary for producers to include French translations on product labels to support regional trade and improve consumer accessibility.
Amponsah Sackey observed that poor packaging and non-compliant labelling continue to undermine the marketability of locally manufactured products.
He disclosed that some products had been banned by the Food and Drugs Authority due to failure to meet required labelling standards.
He stressed that improving packaging quality, branding, and multilingual labelling would not only boost consumer confidence but also create broader market opportunities for Ghanaian products across the West African sub-region and the global marketplace.
The GEPA Zonal Director also renewed calls for an increase in the Authority’s share of the import levy from 10 per cent to 20 per cent to support Ghana’s drive towards achieving its ambitious $10 billion export target by 2030.
“If 10 per cent can generate over $5 billion in export earnings, then 20 per cent will yield even greater results in foreign exchange generation, job creation, and industrial transformation,” he stated.
He noted that the recent performance of Ghana’s export sector demonstrates “a more competitive export base and expanding global reach.”
“This level of performance, achieved with only 10 per cent of the import levy allocation, highlights the efficiency of our export promotion efforts and the strong return on investment,” he added.
Amponsah Sackey reiterated an appeal earlier made by Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, following the release of the 2025 Non-Traditional Export (NTE) Report.
The report indicated that Ghana’s non-traditional export sector generated $5.006 billion in earnings in 2025, representing a 30.7 per cent increase over the $3.83 billion recorded in 2024.
The figures were announced during the launch of the 2025 NTE Statistics Report in Accra and reflect strong growth in value-added exports, as well as the early impact of the government’s Accelerated Export Development Programme.
Non-traditional exports comprise all export commodities outside Ghana’s traditional exports of cocoa, gold, crude oil, and timber, and are widely regarded as a key pillar of the country’s economic diversification agenda.
The report showed that processed and semi-processed products dominated the sector, contributing $3.09 billion in export earnings, a 52.78 per cent increase over 2024, and accounting for 83.47 per cent of total NTE earnings.
Cocoa derivatives, including cocoa paste, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder, remained the largest contributors to the export basket, accounting for 33.18 per cent of total export earnings.
Agricultural exports also recorded significant growth, rising by 37.82 per cent to $710.3 million. The increase was driven by products such as cashew nuts, shea nuts, bananas, and yam exports, with yam exports alone recording an impressive 559 per cent growth.
Europe remained Ghana’s largest destination for non-traditional exports, generating $2.29 billion in earnings and recording a 55.34 per cent increase over the previous year.
Exports to Africa accounted for 30.36 per cent of total NTE trade, largely driven by intra-Economic Community of West African States commerce, while North America recorded the highest growth rate at 82.40 per cent. Exports to Asia also increased by 14 per cent.
The Netherlands emerged as Ghana’s leading export destination, followed by Burkina Faso, United States, United Kingdom, Togo, France, Italy, India, Côte d’Ivoire, and Vietnam.
Industry observers believe the sustained growth in the non-traditional export sector underscores its importance in reducing Ghana’s dependence on raw commodity exports while promoting industrialisation, value addition, and sustainable economic growth.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo| Prosper Adankai
