Petroleum bitumen, palm oil, and mangoes together accounted for more than a third of Ghana’s imports from Côte d’Ivoire in 2024, according to figures from the Ghana Statistical Service.
The data shows that petroleum bitumen alone made up the largest share, representing 20.6 percent of total imports valued at GH₵314.8 million. Palm oil and its fractions followed at 7.0 percent (GH₵107.4 million), while mangoes contributed 6.4 percent (GH₵97.4 million). Collectively, these three commodities represented 34.0 percent of imports from Ghana’s western neighbor.
Household soap (GH₵95.1 million, 6.2 percent) and activated carbon (GH₵74 million, 4.8 percent) rounded off the top five import commodities. Meanwhile, all other products combined made up a staggering 54.9 percent of the basket, valued at GH₵839.2 million.
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While the dominance of petroleum bitumen is somewhat consistent with Ghana’s attempt at infrastructure push, the heavy reliance on Côte d’Ivoire for palm oil and mangoes raises concerns about the country’s agricultural self-sufficiency and food security.
Agricultural analysts argue that Ghana has the natural capacity to expand palm oil plantations and improve mango production to reduce dependency on imports – We are essentially buying what we can grow – stressing that the right policy incentives, irrigation infrastructure, and support for smallholder farmers could close the gap.
The import bill on mangoes is particularly striking, given Ghana’s own favorable climate for the crop and the country’s ambitions to boost horticultural exports under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative. A stronger investment in domestic production could not only substitute imports but also expand Ghana’s presence in export markets.
Similarly, Ghana’s reliance on imported palm oil highlights structural gaps in the agro-processing value chain. With local processors often struggling to secure a consistent supply, the market turns to Côte d’Ivoire to fill the shortfall. Experts say addressing inefficiencies in cultivation, harvesting, and processing would reduce the deficit and create jobs locally.
The 2024 trade data highlights the urgency of aligning agricultural strategy with trade realities. Without targeted reforms, Ghana risks deepening its dependence on neighbors for products it could readily produce.
In addition, the figures also reveal the deep economic interdependence between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, particularly in commodities that drive both industrial growth and consumer demand.
