Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that the United States Government has approved a three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The extension grants duty-free access to the US market for eligible African countries and products. Ghana travel guide.
The development was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a post on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
According to him, the decision by the US to extend the trade agreement came to light after a high-level bilateral meeting between Ghanaian officials and a United States delegation led by Acting US Ambassador Rolf Olson was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess Ghana-US relations and outline priority areas for cooperation in 2026.
Mr Ablakwa said the US House of Representatives had voted overwhelmingly to extend AGOA by three years, describing the decision as a significant win for Ghana’s export-led growth agenda.
He noted that those will boost local garment production and create more jobs. AGOA provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for eligible Sub-Saharan countries and products.
He added that “We expect a final endorsement by the Senate shortly. This positive development will boost local garment production and create more jobs.”
Read the full statement below
Yesterday, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of our Ghana-US bilateral relations and agreed on priority areas for cooperation in 2026.
The meeting which I hosted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reviewed the significant progress we made in 2025.
Acting US Ambassador, Rolf Olson led the US team.
We welcomed our successful negotiations which exempted Ghana from President Trump’s visa sanctions. Ghana will continue to be exempted from visa sanctions and $15,000 visa bonds imposed on other countries.
The meeting acknowledged the removal of President Trump’s 15% tariff on a wide range of unprocessed and semi-processed agricultural products from Ghana and expressed satisfaction with its implementation thus far.
The US conveyed another great news, specifically relating to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) — the House of Representatives voted massively on Monday (a vote of 340 to 54) to extend AGOA by 3 years. 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.
On World Cup preparations, we were assured that special measures have been put in place to expedite visa applications. This is also expected to address the current delays in securing visa appointments which we all agreed must be fixed. The US embassy will address a press conference on these new World Cup Visa Application Initiatives soon.
Ghana and the United States applauded our improved security and law enforcement cooperation leading to the extradition of 9 suspects from Ghana to the USA in 2025, and the ongoing commendable efforts to also send over 2 Ghanaians of high interest from the US to Ghana.
The United States Government has assured, that without prejudice to judicial processes, it will not stand in the way of Ghana as regards the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Sedina Tamakloe Attionu.
Our engagement confirmed recent payments to US companies and the enhanced business climate which is ideal for stronger Ghana-US trade.
A new major health cooperation will soon be launched.
In 2026 Ghana will negotiate a bespoke trade agreement with the United States in our mutual benefit.
We are impressed with the incredible positive velocity of our Ghana-US bilateral relations. ???????? ????????
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
