Togo has overtaken Ghana’s other neighbours to become its largest informal trading partner, accounting for nearly GH¢1.8 billion in informal cross-border trade during the fourth quarter of 2024, according to new data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The findings, drawn from Ghana’s first national Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) Survey, capture unrecorded trade activities between Ghana and its three land neighbours — Togo, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Togo accounted for 61.2% of Ghana’s total informal trade, making it the country’s top informal trading partner. However, Ghana recorded a trade deficit with Togo, importing more than it exported. Cooking oil was the most imported product from both Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, while soft drinks ranked as Ghana’s top informal export to Togo. Other key imports from Togo included rice, mattresses, and livestock.
Burkina Faso: Ghana’s Top Informal Export Destination
Burkina Faso ranked second in informal trade, with Ghana enjoying a GH¢576 million trade surplus — reflecting stronger export flows northward. Alcoholic beverages made up the bulk of Ghana’s informal exports to Burkina Faso, while cows were the main imports from that country. Informal trade represented 37.1% of total trade between Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Côte d’Ivoire: Expanding Informal Trade Ties
Côte d’Ivoire followed closely, with informal trade accounting for 55.7% of total trade between the two nations. Ghana posted a GH¢378 million trade surplus, exporting mainly sugar while importing cooking oil as the leading informal product.
Food and Drinks Lead Informal Trade Flows
The report found that alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and energy drinks together made up 55.8% of Ghana’s total informal beverage exports to neighbouring countries. On the import side, rice (9.4%), sugar (6.1%), maize (6.0%), and beans (3.5%) comprised roughly a quarter of all informally traded food items.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said the data offers a more comprehensive view of Ghana’s regional trade patterns and underscores the significance of informal trade in national economic planning.
“Informal trade is part of everyday life for many Ghanaians. Recognising its value allows us to better understand its contribution to livelihoods and food security,” Dr. Iddrisu noted.
The GSS recommended greater support for small-scale traders through simplified business registration, improved access to microcredit, and better border infrastructure to enhance Ghana’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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Source:Africa Publicity
