Ghana imported $133 million worth of essential food ingredients for cooking and processing in 2023, a significant increase from $89.2 million in 2022, according to the USDA’s report.
These imports mainly included wheat flour, food additives, spices, bakery goods, food coloring, and sweeteners.
The report also mentioned that U.S. exports of these ingredients to Ghana totaled $2.21 million last year, up 52 percent from $1.45 million in 2022. Despite this growth, the U.S. remains the 12th largest supplier of these items to Ghana, with less than three percent market share.
The USDA expects imports to keep growing due to Ghana’s limited capacity in food processing, which struggles to meet rising demand for locally made ingredients. Ghana currently has fewer than 200 registered agro-processing firms, according to the report.
Demand for processed foods is rising due to urbanization, economic growth, and changing diets among urban and middle-class consumers. This trend presents an opportunity for U.S. exporters, given Ghana’s stable political climate and relatively open trade policies.
In summary, the USDA sees Ghana as a potential entry point to the broader West African market for U.S. food exports, thanks to its stable politics and growing consumer demand for quality products.
