Prof Bokpin Urges Gov’t to Boost Export Competitiveness to Benefit from China’s Zero-Tariff Policy
Economist and Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Prof Godfred Bokpin, has welcomed China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries but cautioned that Ghana’s real gains will depend on its ability to enhance export competitiveness.
Speaking in an interview on October 19, following President John Dramani Mahama’s bilateral engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Prof Bokpin noted that while the policy presents potential opportunities for Ghana, its benefits remain largely “theoretical” until the country undertakes the hard work required to boost exports.
“Ordinarily, one could say this is good news. Whatever way you look at it, you can say good news,” he said. “But whatever advantages or other benefits we talk about now could be more theoretical, hypothetical. I am saying so because translating the intended objectives into actual benefits will depend more on the hard work that has to be done by our exporters.”
China’s zero-tariff initiative, discussed during President Mahama’s participation in the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, forms part of Beijing’s broader strategy to deepen cooperation with African economies and expand trade relations. President Xi expressed optimism that Ghana would soon be among the beneficiaries of the policy, which eliminates tariffs on selected goods exported from Africa to China.
Prof Bokpin, however, underscored the need for Ghana to focus on building sustainable competitive advantages within its export sector to meaningfully leverage such preferential trade frameworks.
“When we talk about our exporters, we are talking about the competitive advantage that we have also created to enable our exporters to take advantage of such zero tariffs,” he added.
