Ghana anticipates a "positive outcome" in view of ongoing African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) talks with the United States of America (USA), Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.

Mr Ablakwa said he had "a very constructive meeting" with Acting US Ambassador to Ghana, Rolf Olson today, Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

During the meeting, he said, among other things, the following "positive strides" in the US-GH bilateral relations were assessed:

- Restoration of 5-year visas for Ghanaians

- Removal of President Trump’s I5% tariffs on cocoa, semi-processed cocoa and other qualifying agricultural products

- Arrangements for World Cup soccer fans

- Exemption of Ghana from last week’s Trump Green Card Review and immigration suspension policy

Mr Ablakwa said, "Ghana is also hopeful of a positive outcome with our ongoing AGOA negotiations.

"Ghana-US relations will continue to prioritize the best deals for the people we serve. Ghana’s strategic national interest remains our guiding principle."

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), enacted in 2000, provides eligible sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries with duty-free access to markets in the United States of America (USA) for over 1,800 products. At the core of US economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa, AGOA further gives partner African nations access to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalised System of Preferences programme.

US Congress passed legislation modernising and extending AGOA to 2025, 10 years ago. As of 2024, 32 countries were eligible for AGOA benefits. 

Interested countries must satisfy AGOA’s rigorous eligibility requirements, which can be seen below: 

- Establish or make continual progress toward establishing a market-based economy

- Uphold the rule of law

- Practise political pluralism

- Enforce right to due process

- Eliminate barriers to US trade and investment

- Enact policies to reduce poverty 

- Combat corruption

- Protect human rights.

Through creating new market opportunities, AGOA's objectives, apart from enhancing US economic relations in Africa, is to help support economic growth and promote economic and political reform in SSA.

The foreign affairs minister, per his Facebook post, further said, "We are also pleased to announce enhanced security cooperation efforts with the United States."

"In accordance with our longstanding bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement, Ghana and the United States have increased intelligence sharing and training activities with the coordinated use of U.S. military aviation assets," he explained.

"Ghana welcomes this collaboration with the United States on our shared security priorities. Aviation activities will always be coordinated with the appropriate government authorities."