President John Dramani Mahama has said Commonwealth members have resolved to raise trade among themselves to $2 trillion by 2030, and that Ghana is seeking a larger share of the bloc’s funding for development programmes.
He was responding to a question on the tangible benefits Ghana has gained from Commonwealth membership. His answer followed his engagements in Antigua and Barbuda, where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) convened by His Majesty King Charles III. was held from November 1 to 4 in St. John’s.
Mahama outlines the $2 trillion goal
The President put trade among Commonwealth nations at $875 billion. He added that members believe it will pass $1 trillion this year, and that the plan is to double it over the next four years.
“The resolution that we had in Antigua is to move trade amongst Commonwealth partners to $2 trillion by 2030.”
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama in his speech at CHOGM
He described the bloc as important to Ghana because some of the country’s exports go to Commonwealth markets. “I don’t remember the exact figure for Ghana, but it is quite substantial,” he admitted. He gave no figure for Ghana’s exports to Commonwealth countries or the markets that matter most. He also did not say how the target would be reached.
Leaders build on earlier trade pledges
The $2 trillion goal is not new goal. A Commonwealth official has described it as a goal set by heads of government at CHOGM 2018. In 2025, Commonwealth trade ministers meeting in Windhoek again committed to growing intra-Commonwealth trade to $2 trillion by 2030.
The scale of the bloc explains the ambition. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states with a combined population of 2.7 billion people. The Secretariat values intra-Commonwealth trade in goods and services at $874 billion in 2024. That is close to the President’s $875 billion, so his figure appears to be the 2024 total and not this year’s.
At the summit, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, announced at the closing press conference that leaders had agreed to double trade among members by 2030. The Secretary-General also launched a Commonwealth Trade Portal at CHOGM to help businesses find opportunities. Ahead of the meeting, the Commonwealth launched a new investment platform.
Commonwealth runs programmes beyond trade
President Mahama stressed that the Commonwealth also carries out programmes that get little public attention. He listed education, science and technology, and climate adaptation. In his view, the organisation does not publicise this work, and many people are unaware of it.
He noted that a Ghanaian now leads the Commonwealth Secretariat, and referred to her as “our own sister” as the Secretary-General is Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. The Antigua and Barbuda summit was the first CHOGM she convened since taking office in April 2025. His remarks suggest that Ghana’s link to the Secretary-General could help it make its case. The accounts did not say whether the relationship has led to any commitment.
Ghana seeks a larger share of funding
The President stated he held discussions with the Secretary-General in Antigua on how Ghana can access more of the funding the Commonwealth puts up for these programmes.
No figures, project names or timelines were given. His comments describe an intention, not a confirmed award. The same is true of the trade target, which is a collective goal that does not bind any single member to a given outcome.
Attention will now turn to two questions. Will the talks produce named projects and amounts for Ghana? And will Ghana’s exporters see measurable gains as the Commonwealth moves towards its 2030 target? Official trade data from the Ghana Statistical Service and the Ministry of Trade would show the real size of Ghana’s trade with the bloc.
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