Prolonged Port Clearance Times Undermining Ghana’s Trade Performance, World Bank Asserts
Goods moving through Ghana’s ports face significantly longer clearance times compared to several peer African economies, with exports taking an average of nine days and imports up to 23 days, according to the World Bank.
The institution said the extended processing periods are constraining trade flows and dampening private-sector activity.
Addressing participants at a high-level B-READY consultation held in Accra on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Senior Economist at the World Bank’s Business Ready Unit, Subika Farazi, highlighted border-related inefficiencies as a major factor eroding Ghana’s competitiveness.
“In Ghana, export and import clearance takes roughly nine to 23 days on average, whereas in Cameroon similar processes are completed within five to eight days,” Farazi said.
The port delays are part of broader findings under the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) assessment, which shows that while Ghana has a relatively strong regulatory environment, challenges persist in the practical implementation of those regulations.
According to Farazi, Ghana performs well under the regulatory framework pillar but trails several comparable economies when assessed on operational efficiency.
“Ghana’s performance on the operational efficiency pillar is comparatively weaker, with countries such as Togo, Senegal, Cameroon and Cape Verde recording stronger outcomes,” she noted.
World Bank data further shows that Ghana ranks highly in regulation and public service delivery, placing first in the regulatory pillar and second only to Togo in public services among its peers.
However, efficiency shortcomings—particularly at border posts—continue to impose costs on businesses involved in international trade.
At the sectoral level, Ghana demonstrates strong performance in financial services, labour and business entry, but records weaker scores in areas closely linked to trade competitiveness, including market competition.
“Overall, Ghana’s business readiness ranges from about 72 percent in financial services to approximately 34 percent in market competition,” Farazi explained, adding that although labour indicators remain among the strongest, trade-related bottlenecks remain unresolved.
The session brought together senior public officials, private-sector stakeholders and World Bank experts to examine constraints affecting food processing, light manufacturing and trade facilitation—key focus areas under the government’s 24H⁺ initiative.
The World Bank noted that reducing clearance delays, improving border operations and strengthening operational efficiency could yield some of the quickest gains for Ghana’s business environment as the country seeks to expand trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and enhance private-sector competitiveness.
