Kofi Ahovi

  The administration of US President Donald Trump has temporarily paused some visa appointments at US embassies and consulates worldwide as part of a new training programme for consular officers. The move could affect Ghanaian applicants with scheduled visa interviews at the US Embassy in Accra, particularly those applying for immigrant visas. A US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that the department had launched a global training initiative for consular staff and that visa appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the exercise. The State Department did not provide a specific timeline for the training or indicate how long the adjustments would last. What this means for Ghanaian applicants For Ghanaians who have already scheduled US visa interviews, the development could mean that some appointments may be rescheduled. Applicants whose interviews are affected are expected to receive communication from the US Embassy with information on new appointment dates. Those wh...

  Ghana has turned down a proposed bilateral health agreement with the United States after negotiations collapsed over demands for access to sensitive national health data, according to a Reuters report. The deal formed part of Washington’s broader “America First Global Health Strategy,” a policy framework introduced under the Trump administration to reshape foreign aid by pushing partner countries to take on greater financial and operational responsibility for disease control programmes, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio. Negotiations, which began in November 2025, were expected to secure approximately $109 million in U.S. health support for Ghana over a five-year period. However, talks broke down after Ghanaian officials raised concerns about provisions requiring the sharing of sensitive health data, which they deemed unacceptable. A source familiar with the discussions said the talks started routinely but became increasingly pressured toward the final stages, ...

  The Importers & Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has expressed its heartfelt commendation to the Government of Ghana, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for successfully negotiating the removal of the punitive 15% export tariffs imposed by the United States on Ghanaian cocoa and other qualifying agricultural products. This decisive diplomatic achievement, effective as of November 13, 2025, marks a significant milestone for Ghana's trade community and export-driven growth. The removal of tariffs is expected to restore duty-free or reduced-barrier access to markets for key Ghanaian products such as cocoa, avocado, cashew nuts, mango, and plantain, thereby safeguarding Ghanaian exporters' competitiveness and preserving vital foreign exchange inflows. This development vindicates long-held concerns within the business community," said Samson Asaki Awingobit, Executive Secretary of IEAG. "The tariff impositions were already undermining Ghana's expo...

The United State Department of Agriculture, USDA Grain and Feed 2025 Report forecasts Ghana’s milled rice production for 2025/2026 at 900,000 metric tons, representing “an 18 percent increase from the previous year due to favorable weather and improved farmer participation.” But the optimism is tempered by weather risks. The report cautions that the Ghana Meteorological Agency has predicted “normal-to-below-normal rainfall and longer dry spells in 2025,” raising concerns over crop sustainability. The production gap is already being felt in prices. According to the USDA, “Between March 2024 and January 2025, the average price of a 100kg bag of rice increased from GH¢200 to GH¢650, a 225 percent jump.” Although prices fell to GH¢400 by March 2025, they still remained twice as high compared to a year earlier. Millers have explained that paddy rice with low moisture content attracted lower prices because “it breaks more during milling, reducing quality and affecting supply to the market.” ...

 In a resolute proclamation, Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, K.T. Hammond, has underscored the Ghanaian Government’s unwavering commitment to propelling the country’s private sector towards amplified exports, with a particular focus on the expansive U.S. market. Cognizant of the vast consumer landscape in the United States, Hammond underscored the government’s determined stance to foster a conducive environment for Ghanaian enterprises to capitalize on this pivotal avenue. Addressing an august gathering at the 2023 U.S.-Ghana Business EXPO on August 10, 2023, Hammond articulated that the government’s compass is fixed on empowering the private sector to navigate the intricacies of the U.S. market under the strategic banner of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). “The U.S.-Ghana EXPO stands as a testament to the enduring commitment to cultivate robust bilateral trade affiliations between Ghana and the U.S.,” affirmed Hammond, a sentiment that resonates with the sub...