Non-Tariff barriers driving up cost of trade in West Africa – Trade Minister
Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has identified non-tariff barriers as the most enduring challenge to regional trade within West Africa, warning that they continue to increase the cost of doing business across the sub-region.
Speaking at the 5th Joint Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry in Accra, she said such barriers are adding between 15 and 20 per cent to the cost of cross-border trade, despite ongoing regional efforts to promote integration and economic cooperation.
“Non-tariff barriers remain the most stubborn obstacle in all of this, adding an estimated 15 to 20 per cent to the cost of cross-border trading in West Africa,” she stated.
The minister explained that unlike tariffs, which are predictable and easier for businesses to incorporate into pricing, non-tariff barriers are often unclear and unpredictable, making them more difficult to address.
“I keep saying I am not afraid of tariff barriers. If it is five per cent, you can factor it into your cost of production,” she said.
However, she noted that hidden and informal restrictions on trade continue to frustrate businesses operating across borders, creating inefficiencies in regional commerce.
“But with respect to faceless non-tariff barriers, it continues to create a challenge for us to resolve it,” she added.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare further indicated that the impact of these barriers is felt across the entire supply chain, ultimately pushing up costs for consumers.
“The premium is paid by our traders and absorbed by businesses and passed on to consumers,” she noted.
Her comments were made as ECOWAS member states intensify discussions on strengthening intra-regional trade and advancing the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Accra meeting brought together trade and industry ministers from across West Africa to explore strategies for eliminating trade bottlenecks, enhancing industrial growth and deepening economic integration.
Participants emphasised that addressing non-tariff barriers remains essential to reducing trade costs, improving competitiveness and fully unlocking the region’s economic potential.
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