The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is intensifying its strategy to cement Ghana’s status as a dominant hub for Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) across the continent.
In a dual-track approach, the Authority has initiated a comprehensive technical review of its domestic 2025 performance data while simultaneously formalizing a strategic trade alliance with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA).
These moves signal a pivot toward data-driven industrial policy and aggressive expansion into the Southern African market. In Accra, the Authority convened a session of high-level technical officers from customs, investment, and trade institutions.
The objective was a rigorous audit of the yet-to-be-published 2025 Non-Traditional Export Statistics. For GEPA, the integrity of this data is not merely an administrative requirement; it is a critical tool for identifying growth sectors and aligning Ghana’s export trajectory with the $10 billion NTE target by 2030.
According to GEPA’s Deputy CEO in charge of Administration & Operations, Mr. Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh – who delivered remarks on behalf of the Authority’s CEO – the technical review serves as a proactive measure to ensure that the 2025 report, expected in the first quarter of 2026, is beyond reproach.
He highlighted the importance of strong inter-agency collaboration – noting that by involving a broad spectrum of state agencies, the Authority is building a “unified data ecosystem that can withstand the scrutiny of international investors and regional trade partners.”
For GEPA, the collaboration is essential for building a dataset that reflects the true capacity of Ghanaian exporters. Following the Accra session, the Authority will move into a “field-level data reconciliation,” phase, where figures will be verified directly with exporting companies to ensure the final report is a factual representation of the previous year’s success.
The Ghana-Zambia Trade Corridor
While reinforcing its domestic foundation, GEPA is also looking southward. The Authority noted that during the recent high-profile state visit of H.E. John Dramani Mahama to Zambia, Ghana formalised its partnership with the Zambia Development Agency through a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
This agreement is part of a broader diplomatic effort that saw ten MoUs signed to deepen bilateral economic cooperation between the two nations.
“The MoU provides a framework for collaboration aimed at promoting exports, facilitating market access, supporting private sector engagement and encouraging investment opportunities between the two countries. This partnership aligns with GEPA’s mandate to expand Ghana’s non-traditional exports and deepen regional trade integration within the African market”
GEPA
The partnership with Zambia is strategically timed. As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) moves into a more mature implementation phase, the creation of formal trade corridors between West and Southern Africa is vital.
The GEPA-ZDA alliance will focus on removing non-tariff barriers, facilitating B2B networking, and identifying investment opportunities in sectors where both nations share a competitive advantage, such as agribusiness and value-added manufacturing.
The synchronization of data validation and international market expansion reflects a maturing export strategy. By ensuring that its internal metrics are accurate, GEPA can more effectively negotiate trade terms and showcase Ghana’s potential to partners like Zambia.
As GEPA prepares to release its full 2025 statistics, the early indicators from the half-year report – which showed a 41.21% increase in earnings – suggest that Ghana is on a fast track to meeting its industrialization goals.
With a secure data framework and new footprints in Lusaka, the Authority is positioning the “Made in Ghana” brand for a significant continental breakout.
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