Omanghana
Senior officials from the United States and Ghana have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade and commercial cooperation during high-level bilateral talks held in Accra on February 26, 2026.
The discussions brought together U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Rolf Olson and Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, who both emphasized the importance of deepening economic ties between the two countries.
One of the key issues discussed was the reinstatement of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has been retroactively reauthorized from October 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026. Although often described as a one-year extension, the arrangement effectively provides a 15-month period that allows eligible African countries, including Ghana, to continue exporting certain products to the United States duty-free.
Minister Ofosu-Adjare noted that the extension is particularly important for protecting thousands of jobs in Ghana’s garment manufacturing and agro-processing sectors, which rely heavily on access to the U.S. market.
Another major development from the meeting was the reopening of short-term private sector financing facilities by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The financing program will enable Ghanaian businesses to obtain support when purchasing American goods and services, particularly for infrastructure and industrial development projects.
Officials say the renewed financing is expected to help address one of the major challenges facing Ghanaian businesses, the limited availability of affordable long-term capital needed for expansion and modernization.
The talks also focused on broader commercial priorities. The United States expressed interest in expanding opportunities for American companies operating in Ghana and called for more reciprocal market access.
Both sides also discussed issues related to governance, dispute resolution, and the settlement of outstanding arrears owed to some U.S. companies, measures that officials believe will help improve Ghana’s investment climate and encourage greater economic cooperation between the two nations.
Source: Omanghana
