By Francis Kobena Tandoh
The government of the United States of America (USA) has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by three years, according to Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Wednesday.
In a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, Hon. Ablakwa said 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 in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
According to the Foreign Minister, 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.
“Yesterday, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of our Ghana-US bilateral relations and agreed on priority areas for cooperation in 2026. The U.S. conveyed great news specifically relating to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),” read the post.
“The House of Representatives voted massively on Monday (a vote of 340 to 54) to extend AGOA for three 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,” added the post.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA Trade and Development Act of 2000 (P.L. 106–200), is a piece of legislation that was approved by the U.S. Congress in May 2000.
The stated purpose of this legislation is to assist the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa and to improve economic relations between the United States and the region.
After completing its initial 15-year period of validity, the AGOA legislation was extended on 29 June 2015 by a further 10 years, to 2025. AGOA expired on 30 September 2025.
For two decades, AGOA was more than a trade arrangement – it was a lifeline for businesses, a source of foreign exchange, and a catalyst for industrialisation.
Ghana’s cocoa derivatives, processed fruits, apparel, and other goods found a competitive footing in the United States largely because of the preferential access AGOA guaranteed. However, the agreement expired on September 30, 2025. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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