Ghana–UK Trade Pact records 5 years of growth

Ghana and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

This was underscored at a joint Technical Committee meeting of the Ghana–UK Trade Partnership Agreement (TPA), marking five years since its implementation.

The meeting, convened in Accra on Thursday, March 19, brought together government officials, development partners and trade institutions from both countries, alongside representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to review progress, address outstanding issues and chart a path for enhanced cooperation.

On the Ghanaian side, the Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi described the anniversary as a moment of reflection and renewed commitment.

He noted that the milestone coincides with Ghana’s recent 69th Independence Day celebrations, reinforcing the country’s drive toward economic transformation and strengthened international partnerships.

He highlighted recent trade figures which show a positive trade balance in favour of the United Kingdom, while pointing to a steady increase in Ghana’s exports. 

He stressed, however, that significant opportunities remain to diversify and expand trade flows between the two countries.

The Deputy Minister called on participants to adopt practical and forward-looking approaches in their deliberations, with a focus on resolving outstanding issues from previous engagements and identifying innovative solutions to enhance trade resilience amid global uncertainties.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the British High Commissioner, Development Director at the British High Commission, Terri Sarch underscored the significance of the agreement as a cornerstone of the Ghana-UK economic relationship.

She mentioned that trade between the two countries had grown by nearly 10 per cent over the past year, describing the development as a testament to the strength of the partnership.

According to her, beyond boosting trade volumes, the agreement plays a critical role in driving investment, creating jobs and supporting Ghana’s ongoing economic recovery. She further emphasised the need to increase awareness among businesses in both countries to fully leverage opportunities under the TPA.

Co-Chair of the meeting from the UK side, Paul Whittingham, highlighted the centrality of partnership in advancing the agreement, stressing the importance of building a future-oriented trade relationship.

He noted the growing importance of services trade, describing it as a key area for expansion in the years ahead, and expressed optimism that continued collaboration would yield even greater gains by the agreement’s tenth anniversary.

Representing the ECOWAS Commission, Kolawole A. Sofola conveyed goodwill on behalf of the Commission’s President, noting that the Ghana-UK agreement holds broader regional significance and could serve as a model for regional trade cooperation.

Key outcomes from the meeting, as captured in a Joint Communiqué, underscored a renewed commitment by both parties to accelerate implementation of the agreement and address critical policy and technical issues.

Both Ghana and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to finalising the Rules of Procedure for Dispute Settlement and the establishment of an Arbitration Panel, a key step toward strengthening the institutional framework of the agreement.

The two sides also reviewed progress on Ghana’s 2024–2025 tariff liberalisation schedule, with further technical updates expected from the Ghana Revenue Authority to ensure smooth implementation.

On trade facilitation and market access, both parties agreed to deepen cooperation on Rules of Origin, including plans to hold a dedicated technical meeting to support Ghanaian exporters in transitioning to origin declarations and fully benefiting from the agreement.

The meeting further highlighted the importance of data sharing and evidence-based decision-making, with both sides agreeing to organise a technical session to enhance access to trade data for businesses, investors and policymakers.

Discussions also covered ongoing development cooperation initiatives, including programmes on jobs and economic transformation, regulatory reform and standards development, as well as UK support for Ghana’s implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).