Country exposure · GH

Ghana
Africa · Accra · presidential republic
What Ghana means for your money — the prices you pay, the tariffs in motion, and where U.S. policy could change both.

$1.2B
U.S. imports, 2025
+3.7%
change in one year
$1.3B
U.S. exports, 2025
35M
Population
$82.8B
GDP
In your house
What you buy that Ghana makes
America bought $1.2B in goods from Ghana in 2025. Of every $100 of it, here's where the money went.
Cocoa beans
cocoa for chocolate
Bakery products
Crude oil
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotton
synthetic and performance apparel
Natural rubber
natural rubber for tires
U.s. goods returned, and reimports
Nonferrous metals, other
Tobacco, waxes, etc.
Vegetables
vegetables
Feedstuff and foodgrains
2026 so far (through April): $799M in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis).
The other direction
What America sells to Ghana
$1.3B in 2025 — a trade rupture cuts both ways, for American producers as well as American prices.
Passenger cars, new and used
$317Mnew and used cars
Natural gas liquids
$169MMeat, poultry, etc.
$117MPlastic materials
$102Mplastics for packaging and goods
Cell phones and other household goods, n.e.c.
$48Mcell phones and home electronics
Petroleum products, other
$42MOther parts and accessories of vehicles
$39Mcar parts and accessories
Minimum value shipments
$38MIndustrial engines
$31MWhere you stand
U.S. tariff posture toward Ghana
No U.S. tariff action singles this country out. Its goods face the universal 10% temporary import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act (which replaced the IEEPA reciprocal baseline in February 2026) plus the sectoral Section 232 duties — steel and aluminum at 50% — that apply to all countries. The Section 122 surcharge is statutorily temporary — scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 (a 150-day cap) unless extended or replaced.
Reciprocal tariff (universal baseline)
10%
The universal 10% floor — a Section 122 import surcharge since February 2026, previously the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline — applies to nearly all U.S. imports. This country has no higher assigned rate of its own.
Policy in motion
Tariff status: a moving target
No U.S. tariff action names Ghana. These are the universal measures — applied to every country without a country-specific arrangement — that set its treatment.
2026-04-06
Section 232 metals coverage expanded
In effectThe April 2026 proclamation strengthening Section 232 actions on aluminum, steel, and copper expanded derivative-product coverage for all countries, keeping the general metals rate at 50%.
91 FR 18201 →2026-02-24
IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 surcharge
In effectExecutive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties — including the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline — effective February 24, 2026. A flat 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge (Proclamation 11012 of February 20, 2026) replaced them, leaving the universal rate unchanged at 10% on a different statutory basis. Section 122 caps such surcharges at 150 days, so this 10% surcharge is scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 absent further action (the administration has signaled it could raise the rate toward the 15% statutory maximum).
91 FR 9437 →2025-11-13
Agricultural products exempted from reciprocal tariffs
In effectExecutive Order 14360 of November 14, 2025 removed reciprocal duties from certain agricultural products listed in its annexes (coffee, cocoa, bananas, and other goods the U.S. does not produce in sufficient quantity), retroactive to November 13, 2025 — for all countries subject to the reciprocal tariff.
90 FR 54091 →2025-06-04
Section 232 steel and aluminum duties doubled to 50%
In effectThe June 3, 2025 proclamation raised Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum articles and derivatives from 25% to 50% for all countries, effective June 4, 2025.
90 FR 24199 →2025-04-05
Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect
In effectExecutive Order 14257 (signed April 2, 2025) imposed a 10% ad valorem reciprocal duty on imports from all trading partners, effective April 5, 2025. Countries without a higher Annex I rate remain at this baseline.
Federal Register · 2025-06063 →2025-03-12
Section 232 steel and aluminum duties set at 25% for all countries
In effectProclamations of February 10, 2025 terminated all country exemptions and quota arrangements and applied 25% Section 232 duties to steel and aluminum imports from every country, effective March 12, 2025.
90 FR 9817 →
Made for America
What Ghana makes for America
Ghana is a direct U.S. source of 7 essential goods Americans rely on — the items themselves, shipped finished off the line.
food
1% of U.S.Chocolate and cocoa products
$66M to the U.S.
materials
Clothing and apparel
$54M to the U.S.
agriculture
1% of U.S.Animal feed
$13M to the U.S.
materials
Lumber and wood products
$10M to the U.S.
food
Seafood and fish
$9M to the U.S.
food
Canned and shelf-stable foods
$5M to the U.S.
food
Snacks & confectionery
$5M to the U.S.
Go deeper
The supply chain view
Ghana sits upstream of 4 essential American goods through 5 tracked inputs.
agricultural
14%Cocoa Beans (Theobroma cacao)
agricultural
12%Cocoa Beans
agricultural
7%Cocoa Powder
agricultural
1%Natural Rubber (Compounded, Tire & Track Grade)
agricultural
1%Palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB)
Reference
The country itself
Africa · Geography, people, economy, and government — public-domain data from the CIA World Factbook.
Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, but little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of the Akan people's power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and competed for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader. Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.

Geography
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
- Area
- 238,533 sq km
- Climate
- tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
- Terrain
- mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
- Natural resources
- gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
- Coastline
- 539 km
- Natural hazards
- dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
People & society
- Population
- 35,336,133 (2025 est.)
- Nationality
- Ghanaian(s)
- Ethnic groups
- Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)
- Languages
- Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.)
- Religions
- Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)
- Median age
- 21.6 years (2025 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth
- 70.1 years (2024 est.)
- Literacy
- 76.5% (2021 est.)
Economy
- Economic overview
- West African lower-middle income economy; major gold, oil and cocoa exporter; macroeconomic challenges following nearly four decades of sustained growth; recent progress in debt restructuring, fiscal reforms, financial stability, and curbing runaway inflation under 2023-26 IMF credit facility program
- Industries
- mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
- Agricultural products
- cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
- Exports - partners
- Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023)
- Imports - partners
- China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023)
Government
- Government type
- presidential republic
- Capital
- Accra
- Independence
- 6 March 1957 (from the UK)
- Constitution
- several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993
- Executive branch
- President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
- Legislative branch
- Parliament
Full reference data
Every field, by section — CIA World Factbook. Open a topic to expand it.
Introduction
Travel Facts
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Page last updated: Wednesday, May 03, 2023