Ghana has welcomed a major development in its trade relations with the United States after the US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for three more years.
The extension, approved by a margin of 340‑to‑54, now heads to the Senate for final endorsement before being sent to the President for signature.
AGOA, first enacted in 2000, allows eligible sub‑Saharan African countries preferential, duty‑free access to the US market, creating opportunities for local businesses to grow exports and create jobs. The programme was allowed to lapse at the end of September 2025, after years of debate over its future in Congress.
At a bilateral meeting in Accra on 14 January 2026, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the extension was a “great news” for Ghana, noting its potential to boost local garment production and create jobs.
“AGOA provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for eligible Sub‑Saharan countries and products. We expect a final endorsement by the Senate shortly. This positive development will boost local garment production and create more jobs,” he said.
The extension is expected to provide much‑needed certainty for Ghanaian exporters and help stabilise trade flows after the uncertainty caused by the programme’s expiry in late 2025.
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