Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi has revealed that President John Mahama has directed the government to take all necessary steps to address the controversial 10% tariff imposed on Ghanaian exports by US President Donald Trump.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, April 7, Mr. Ahi emphasized that the tariff issue is a top priority for the president, who views it as a matter of national significance. President Mahama has reportedly given full backing for diplomatic and strategic efforts to reverse the decision, which many in Ghana consider unjust.

“President Mahama has tasked us with ensuring that every effort is made to resolve the issue of the tariffs imposed by President Trump,” Mr. Ahi stated. “If necessary, the president is prepared to intervene directly to safeguard Ghana’s economic interests.”

Mr. Ahi’s comments came after a high-level meeting with the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, on the same day. The meeting was prompted by the decision to include cocoa, Ghana’s main export, in a list of products targeted for new tariffs, despite the fact that the US does not produce cocoa.

The deputy minister questioned the rationale behind the move, arguing that it made no sense for the US to impose tariffs on a commodity it does not produce. “If the goal is to protect domestic industries, tariffs should be applied to products where the US has a competitive advantage,” Ahi said. “But the US does not produce cocoa, so this tariff seems unfair.”

Ambassador Palmer, according to Ahi, was surprised by the inclusion of cocoa in the tariff scheme and suggested that Ghana take the issue to a higher diplomatic level. She indicated that pursuing the matter at the government level could lead to the exemption of cocoa from the tariffs.

Mr. Ahi also highlighted that Ghana is not alone in this issue, as the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are preparing to respond collectively. “We are in this fight together,” he said, adding that AfCFTA is organizing a meeting of African trade ministers on April 14 to discuss the situation.

“This is not just an issue for Ghana, but for the whole continent,” Ahi concluded. “We will continue to fight for our farmers and our economy, and we will not back down from this unfair trade decision.”

Source:TheDotNews