Dr. Alhassan Iddrissu
Ghana recorded a trade surplus of $4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven largely by strong gold exports, data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has shown.
According to the First Quarter Trade Newsletter released by the GSS, the country exported goods worth US$10.2 billion during the period, while imports amounted to US$5.9 billion.
The Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrissu, said the figures meant that “for every 100 cedis that Ghana earned from exports, 58 percent went back out on imports.
He, however, cautioned that the headline surplus largely reflects the value of goods at prevailing prices.
“Once we strip out rising prices, Ghana actually received more goods than it shipped; that is, exports of US$2.6 billion against imports of $3.2 billion,” Dr. Iddrissu explained.
Gold remained Ghana’s biggest export during the quarter, generating US$5.9 billion in export earnings.
Cocoa exports also improved, but Dr. Iddrissu warned that Ghana’s export earnings remain concentrated in a narrow range of commodities.
He noted that much of the increase in export prices during the quarter was driven by gold, further highlighting the commodity’s dominant role in Ghana’s external trade.
The Government Statistician also raised concern about the concentration of Ghana’s export markets.
“India and Switzerland together took more than a third of what Ghana sold,” he revealed.
Janet Odei Amponsah