Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana Welcomes U.S. House Approval of AGOA Extension, Urges Strategic Repositioning to Boost Exports
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has welcomed the approval by the United States House of Representatives to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for an additional three years, describing the decision as a renewed opportunity for Ghana to correct long-standing underperformance under the preferential trade scheme.
In a statement issued on January 14, 2026, the Chamber said the overwhelming bipartisan vote of 340–54 offers Ghana’s agribusiness sector a critical window to reposition and maximise access to the U.S. market, the world’s largest consumer economy.
According to CAG, Ghana has consistently fallen short of its agricultural export potential since AGOA’s inception in 2000. Between 2001 and 2023, total exports to the United States under AGOA averaged between $150 million and $200 million annually, with agricultural and agro-processed products accounting for less than 15 per cent. In 2022, agricultural exports under AGOA amounted to just $45 million, representing less than two per cent of Ghana’s agricultural export potential.
The Chamber attributed the weak performance to structural constraints, including inadequate infrastructure, low awareness of AGOA provisions among small and medium-sized agribusinesses, limited value addition, high compliance costs, and expensive export financing. It noted that Ghana loses an estimated 30–40 per cent of perishable produce annually due to insufficient cold chain facilities, while certification and compliance costs ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per facility remain prohibitive for most exporters.
CAG, however, acknowledged recent progress, citing the implementation of the National Export Development Strategy, increased domestic cocoa processing capacity, growth in horticultural exports, and rising shea butter exports to the U.S. market. It, however, also stressed that significant gaps persist, with only 15–20 per cent of agribusinesses currently meeting U.S. export standards and cold chain infrastructure serving less than 10 per cent of export-ready fresh produce.
To fully leverage the AGOA extension, the Chamber called for immediate actions in 2026–2027, including the establishment of an AGOA Readiness Task Force, the creation of a $50 million AGOA Export Fund, and accelerated investment in cold storage and testing infrastructure. Medium-term priorities, it said, should focus on product diversification, expanded agro-processing, and stronger partnerships with U.S. distributors.
“The three-year AGOA extension represents both an opportunity and a mandate for transformation,” CAG stated, adding that coordinated public and private sector action will be critical to translating preferential access into sustainable export growth and job creation.
