Ghana Fights Back: Mahama Orders Bold Action Against U.S. Cocoa Tariffs

President John Mahama has directed the Ghanaian government to take swift and decisive action regarding the controversial 10% tariff imposed on the country’s cocoa exports by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

In an interview with Joy News on April 7, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Sampson Ahi revealed that President Mahama considers the tariff issue a matter of national importance, urging his team to explore all possible diplomatic and strategic avenues to reverse the decision.

The move follows growing concerns in Ghana about the economic impact of the U.S. tariff, which includes cocoa, one of the nation’s most important export commodities.

“President Mahama has tasked us to ensure that efforts are made to resolve this issue,” Ahi explained. “The president is fully behind us, and if necessary, he will personally intervene at the highest level.”

Ahi’s comments came after a high-level meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer.

The meeting was convened to discuss the U.S. administration’s decision to include cocoa in its list of products subject to tariffs, despite the fact that the U.S. does not produce cocoa.

This has raised questions about the fairness and logic of such a move.

The Deputy Minister questioned the reasoning behind the U.S. decision, noting that tariffs are typically imposed to protect domestic industries.

“If the U.S. wants to impose taxes on commodities to remain competitive, they would do that for products they have a competitive advantage over,” Ahi stated. “But they don’t produce cocoa, and yet they’ve imposed this 10% tariff on our exports.”

During the meeting, Ambassador Palmer expressed surprise at the inclusion of cocoa in the tariff scheme.

She indicated that Ghana should escalate the issue to a higher diplomatic level to seek an exemption. “She was surprised,” Ahi said, adding that the Ambassador suggested involving the President to bring attention to the matter at top governmental levels.

Ghana is not facing this challenge alone. Ahi also mentioned that the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are preparing to respond collectively to the tariff issue. On April 14, AfCFTA will host a meeting with African trade ministers to discuss the matter and plan a united response.

“This is an unfair trade decision that directly impacts our farmers, our economy, and our export earnings,” Ahi said. “We will not take this lightly, and we will continue to fight for a resolution.”

As the situation unfolds, the Ghanaian government remains committed to ensuring that its vital cocoa industry is protected, and diplomatic efforts are ramping up to address the issue at the highest levels.