Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Michael Okyere Baafi
Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Michael Okyere Baafi, has appealed to the government to take swift action to support exporters following the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The US trade programme, which ended on September 30, had for more than two decades granted Sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to American markets.
Its expiry has raised concerns about the future of Ghanaian manufacturers who depended on the scheme to penetrate the U.S. market.
Baafi, a former Deputy Trade Minister and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade and Business Committee, warned that many exporters had already tied production schedules and budgets to American demand and could suffer “severe shocks” without urgent intervention.
“The government has a huge responsibility.
“The first step is to convene a national conference with exporters and manufacturers to provide them reassurance and chart a new direction,” he said.
The MP urged Ghanaian businesses to look to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a long-term alternative, stressing that the agreement offers a larger market than the US.
“AfCFTA has come to stay. The African market of over 3 billion people is even bigger than the American market,” he noted, calling on exporters to redirect trade flows to regional partners and build stronger continental supply chains.
Baafi cautioned that Ghana’s economic stability could be at risk if exports falter.
“Without exports, Ghana will be in trouble.
“Our foreign exchange regime will come to a halt.
“A strong export sector is the only way to stabilise the Cedi,” he said.
He added that African exporters must take ownership of AfCFTA to safeguard the continent’s economic future.
“We as Africans must not sit down for other countries to come and take advantage.
“AfCFTA is the biggest customs union in the world today, and African exporters must own it,” he emphasised.
