By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
National executives and the entire membership of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) have expressed their discontent over its repeated exclusion from the Presidential Dialogue with the private sector.
According to the group, its continuous exclusion from important national engagement could hinder Ghana’s ability to fully benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
IEAG’s expression of discontent follows its exclusion from a meeting held on February 23, 2026, where President John Dramani Mahama engaged selected private sector leaders to review economic progress and explore strategies for sustaining growth.
In a press statement issued today, Thursday, February 25, 2026, the IEAG said the omission from the dialogue convened was particularly concerning given its central role in facilitating cross-border trade, managing supply chains, and supporting industrialisation.
“Our annual engagement in trade policy, export development, and import facilitation directly supports Ghana’s capacity to take advantage of AfCFTA opportunities. And so excluding a key stakeholder like the IEAG undermines inclusive dialogue and risks slowing the country’s trade growth,” a portion of the statement said.
It further highlighted that importers provide critical raw materials, machinery, and intermediate goods needed for industrial production, while exporters expand Ghanaian products into regional markets, generate foreign exchange, and create jobs.
The IEAG argued that these roles are essential for realising the AfCFTA’s potential, which the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimate could increase intra-African trade by more than 50% through reduced tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
According to them, the recently held Presidential Dialogue with the private sector marks the second consecutive year the association has been left out of the event, despite its Executive Secretary serving on the Presidential Committee on Accelerated Export Development.
The statement explained that leadership of the association previously sought clarification after last year’s exclusion, which was described as an oversight, but expressed concern that the recurrence could indicate a deliberate omission.
The IEAG stressed that while it remains committed to supporting government initiatives to advance trade, industrialisation, and economic transformation, it will now engage in a “more defined and deliberate framework” to ensure the voices of its members are fully recognised in national trade policy.
