Ghana’s export sector recorded remarkable growth in 2024, with total exports reaching GH₵294.9 billion.
This significantly outpaced the country’s imports, which stood at GH₵250.2 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of GH₵44.7 billion, according to the latest Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Trade Report.
The GSS report reveals that gold, petroleum, and cocoa collectively accounted for 78.2% of Ghana’s total export revenue.
Gold bullion emerged as the country’s top export, generating an impressive GH₵162.99 billion and contributing 55.3% of total exports.
Crude petroleum oils followed, earning GH₵52.58 billion, which represented 17.8% of the nation’s export earnings. Cocoa, a staple of Ghana’s economy, also played a significant role, with cocoa beans and cocoa paste collectively bringing in GH₵21.55 billion, making up 8.4% of total export revenue.
| Rank | Export Item | Value (GH₵ Billion) | Percentage Share (%) |
| 1 | Gold bullion | 162.99 | 55.3 |
| 2 | Crude petroleum oils | 52.58 | 17.8 |
| 3 | Cocoa beans (superior quality raw beans) | 14.95 | 5.1 |
| 4 | Cocoa paste (not defatted) | 6.60 | 2.2 |
| 5 | Manganese ores and concentrates | 3.43 | 1.2 |
| 6 | Natural cocoa butter | 3.18 | 1.1 |
| 7 | Cashew nuts (in shell) | 2.65 | 0.9 |
| 8 | Tuna, skipjack, and Atlantic bonito (prepared/preserved, not minced) | 2.23 | 0.8 |
| 9 | Iron/Steel (h/r, irregular coils, not further forged) | 1.93 | 0.7 |
| 10 | Shea (karite) oil and fractions, crude | 1.93 |
The strong export performance underscores Ghana’s robust commodities market and its continued reliance on gold, crude oil, and cocoa as major revenue drivers.
With the trade surplus of GH₵44.7 billion, economic analysts are optimistic that the country’s export sector will continue to thrive, bolstered by stable global demand for these key commodities.
Source: Citi Newsroom