President John Mahama has instructed his administration to take swift and decisive action to address the 10% tariff imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Ghana’s exports, particularly cocoa. Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi disclosed this during an appearance on Joy News’ PM Express on April 7, emphasizing that the president views the issue as one of national importance.

According to Mr. Ahi, President Mahama has given full support to both diplomatic and strategic efforts to overturn the tariff, which many Ghanaians consider unfair. The Deputy Minister stated that they have already engaged the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, in a high-level meeting to discuss the matter.

The main point of contention is the inclusion of cocoa in the list of products targeted for the 10% tariff. Mr. Ahi pointed out the illogical nature of the decision, noting that the U.S. does not produce cocoa and therefore gains no competitive advantage from taxing it. He argued that tariffs are usually imposed to protect domestic industries, but that rationale does not apply in this case.

Interestingly, Ambassador Palmer herself was reportedly surprised by the inclusion of cocoa in the new tariff regime. Mr. Ahi said she recommended that Ghana escalate the issue to a higher diplomatic level, potentially involving President Mahama directly in negotiations to seek an exemption for cocoa.

“She believes that cocoa could be removed from the list if we push hard enough diplomatically,” Ahi noted, indicating that Ghana is prepared to pursue every available option to protect its economic interests.

Mr. Ahi also highlighted that Ghana is not tackling this issue in isolation. The African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are also stepping in to coordinate a continent-wide response. An upcoming meeting of African trade ministers, scheduled for April 14, will address the tariff situation and map out a collective strategy.

Calling the tariff “unfair,” Mr. Ahi stressed its potential negative impact on Ghana’s economy, cocoa farmers, and export revenue. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the matter swiftly and effectively.

“This is not something we’re taking lightly. It affects our economy deeply, and we will fight it with everything we have,” he stated.

The controversy comes as Trump continues to defend his aggressive tariff policies, which have also drawn criticism and concern from other nations and global economic groups.