UK and Ghana sign bilateral trade deal that guarantees tariff-free movement of goods and services

BRITAIN has signed a trade partnership agreement with Ghana that offers the tariff-free movement of goods and services and provides a platform for greater economic and cultural cooperation.

Said to be supporting a trading relationship worth £1.2bn, the deal reinstates the terms of the economic partnership agreement between the two countries when the UK was part of the European Union (EU). Under the terms of the arrangement, Ghanaian products including bananas, tinned tuna and cocoa will can enter the UK tariff-free immediately and in line to benefit from this tariff liberalisation as from 2023 are products including machinery, electronics and chemical products.

Yesterday, the agreement was signed by the UK's secretary of state for international trade Liz Truss and Ghana’s acting high commissioner to the UK, Peprah Ampratwum, at the Department for International Trade in central London. Secretary Truss was joined on a video call by Ghana’s minister designate for trade and industry, Alan Kyerematen, to mark the signing.

Ms Truss said: "I am delighted to be able to sign this deal with our friends and partners in Ghana. It provides certainty for businesses that provide vital jobs and livelihoods in Ghana and it strengthens the ties between our two countries. We can now look forward to deepening and furthering our relationship in future and working together to secure a broader agreement with the West Africa region."

Minister for international trade Ranil Jayawardena said: "This deal secures tariff-free access for products that British shoppers love and supports jobs in Ghana, paving the way for further economic growth as we build back better from Covid-19. It is further evidence of Britain’s determination to champion free trade around the world, which fosters growth, creates jobs and raises living standards for all.

James Duddridge, the UK's minister for Africa added: "The UK and Ghana have a strong partnership and the signing of today’s agreement marks an important moment for boosting trade, worth £1.2bn, between our two nations. With tariff-free access for Ghana to the UK, it will enable businesses to scale up their operations, support innovation in markets and create jobs as we recover together from the coronavirus pandemic."

Ghana’s largest exports to the UK include mineral fuels and oil, preparations of fish, fruit, cocoa and cocoa preparations. Its top imports from the UK include clothing/textiles, machinery and mechanical appliances, and chemical products.

With this deal, the UK has now secured trade agreements with 65 non-EU countries, representing trade worth £217bn. This accounts for 97% of the value of trade with non-EU countries that the UK government set out to secure agreements with at the start of the trade continuity programme.

Total UK trade with Ghana was £1.2bn in 2019, of which UK exports were £652m. The total value of UK trade with the 65 non-EU countries it has signed trade deals with is worth £890bn, equivalent to about 63% of total UK trade.