Ghana earns $1.1b from non-traditional exports first-half of 2012

Non-traditional exports earned $1.1 billion for Ghana in the first half of this year, Trade Minister, Hannah Tetteh, has said.

The amount represents a six per cent increase in non-traditional export revenue over the figure for the same period in 2011.

Taking her turn at the meet-the-press series in Accra, Ms Tetteh said it was anticipated that total non-traditional export earning for the year would exceed that of 2011.

She announced that a national export strategy and programme had been developed by the ministry to increase export earnings.

When approved by Cabinet, she said, the strategy and programme would increase non-traditional export earning by $5 billion over the next five years.

Expatiating on the programme, Ms Tetteh said the strategy would seek to consolidate Ghana’s share of the major export markets in Europe and also increase its share of the African markets, particularly the ECOWAS sub-region.

She added that the strategy would intensify the production of non-traditional export products across the country, such that each district would have at least one major export product.

To develop the human resource capacity of agencies to enhance the implementation of export initiatives, she said the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) had embarked on training activities to improve the services and activities of exporters and trade-related organisations, as well as enhance the quality of products suitable for the export market.

She said as a result of that, 400 exporters and other export stakeholders had been trained in export marketing fundamentals, while 200 oil palm farmers had been trained in quality export marketing in Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region. The capacities of 50 agricultural extension officers in Ejura-Sekyeredumase have been enhanced.

Ms Tetteh said the Ghana Export School had also trained 95 horticultural farmers in quality export marketing in Kpando and Ho in the Volta Region.

Source: Daily Graphic