“10% Tariff Will Hurt Businesses – Govt Must Seek a Waiver” – Oppong Nkrumah

The Minority in Parliament has urged the government to take swift action to secure exemptions from the newly introduced 10% tariff on Ghanaian exports to the United States.

According to the Minority, this tariff poses a significant threat to businesses that rely on the U.S. market and could weaken Ghana’s export sector if immediate steps are not taken.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, has called for diplomatic negotiations with U.S. authorities to secure a waiver.

In a statement on his social media pages, he cautioned that the tariff would increase costs for Ghanaian goods in the U.S., making them less competitive and ultimately affecting businesses and livelihoods dependent on exports.

“The newly imposed 10% tariff on Ghanaian exports to the U.S. will undoubtedly drive up costs, making our goods less competitive and threatening the survival of businesses in the sector,” he stated.

He emphasized the need to leverage Ghana’s economic diplomacy efforts, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), to push for a waiver.

“At a time when economic diplomacy has been strengthened through initiatives like the AfCFTA, Ghana must actively engage the U.S. and seek an exemption,” he added.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, who is also the MP for Ofoase Ayirebi, linked the issue to the government’s proposed 24-hour economy initiative, highlighting that a robust export sector is crucial to its success.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are yet to comment on the matter, but industry stakeholders and business associations are expected to weigh in soon.