The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have renewed their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening trade facilitation, boosting exports and supporting sustainable economic growth.

The renewed agreement reinforces the commitment of both institutions to deepen collaboration in implementing Ghana’s obligations under key trade frameworks, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) trade agenda.

The MoU was signed by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark Africa, Allen Sophia Asiimwe.

It builds on an earlier partnership established in January 2023, which provided a strategic framework for advancing Ghana’s trade and economic development priorities.

Under the renewed partnership, TradeMark Africa and the Ministry will continue implementing the Ghana Country Programme Strategy, which focuses on impactful interventions in trade facilitation, regional integration, private sector competitiveness and improved market access.

The agreement will further support efforts to modernise Ghana’s border management systems, strengthen digital trade infrastructure, improve logistics networks and reduce the time and cost of moving goods along the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor.

It will also promote stronger standards and quality systems to enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian exports, particularly agricultural and manufactured products.

A key focus of the partnership is to expand opportunities for women, young people and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in regional and AfCFTA trade through inclusive trade interventions and improved access to trade finance. The agreement will also support Ghana’s preparedness for emerging green trade requirements.

Speaking on the impact of the partnership so far, Ms Ofosu-Adjare highlighted significant achievements, including the recent commissioning of improved border management systems at the Akanu–Noepe Joint Border Post.

She noted that the integrated digital customs systems, modern infrastructure and solar energy solutions introduced at the border had enabled 24-hour operations and helped reduce delays in the movement of goods.

In her remarks, Ms Asiimwe commended the Government, particularly the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, for its continued collaboration with TradeMark Africa and expressed optimism that the renewed partnership would further deepen cooperation and deliver greater results.

Beyond infrastructure and technology, the collaboration has supported traders and businesses by strengthening institutional capacity, training border officials and providing export-readiness support to SMEs.

More than 1,250 women and small-scale cross-border traders have benefited from support on AfCFTA procedures, simplified trade processes and safer trading environments.

The renewed MoU is expected to provide a platform for scaling up investments, increasing exports and advancing Ghana’s ambition of becoming a leading regional trade and investment hub. It also aligns with national priorities centred on private sector-led growth, industrialisation, job creation and the development of a resilient, export-driven economy.