Business (Trade)
The U.S. has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by one year, a move Ghana's Trade Minister says will safeguard thousands of local jobs.
The United States has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by one year, providing a temporary reprieve for Ghana's exporters and safeguarding thousands of local jobs, particularly in the garment, agro-processing, cocoa derivatives, and light manufacturing sectors. The extension, signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 3, 2026, is retroactive to September 30, 2025, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2026 ¹ ² ³.
Ghana's Trade Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, welcomed the decision, describing it as a "timely intervention" that will protect jobs and stabilize confidence in Ghana's export sector. The Minister urged exporters to leverage the Accelerated Export Development Programme to boost Ghana's exports to the US market ⁴ ⁵.
The AGOA extension is expected to have a significant impact on Ghana's economy, particularly in the cocoa and garment sectors. Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, noted that the extension would boost local garment production and create more jobs ⁶ ⁷.
The AGOA has been a cornerstone of US-Africa trade relations since its enactment in 2000, providing duty-free access to the US market for eligible African countries. The extension provides a strategic window for Ghana to consolidate its position in the US market, expand export volumes, and strengthen value chains in sectors heavily reliant on AGOA's duty-free access.
