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The Ghana Statistical Service has revealed that China dominated Ghana’s import market in the fourth quarter of 2025, accounting for GH¢14.3 billion, or 23.3% of total imports, making it the country’s largest single source of imported goods.
Ghana relies on many countries in Africa and beyond for critical supplies, such as food and agricultural inputs. Aside from China, the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Nigeria were among the country’s other major trading partners in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The West African country recorded an import bill of GH¢61.4 billion in Q4 2025. Fuel, vehicles, machinery and consumer goods purchases dominated the list of imported items during that period. Items needed for production, processing and distribution across sectors also dominated the list of imported items according to the Ghana Statistical Service.
Ghana recorded a notable trade surplus during the period, supported by strong export performance to countries such as India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite its high import levels.
The country’s exports, however, were largely dominated by raw materials, particularly gold and cocoa, indicating that Ghana imports more already-processed goods than it exports.
This gap between Ghana’s imports and exports reflects an economic structure in which the country continues to export primary commodities while relying on external markets for finished and semi-processed goods, including many food-related items.
Asian countries account for nearly half of Ghana’s imports. This trend raises concerns about Ghana’s vulnerability to global supply shifts and price fluctuations, as well as the urgency of strengthening local production and import-substitution efforts.
